By THE Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has marked his fourth coronation anniversary with a call for repentance as the foundation for true reconciliation, while announcing the launch of the Iwere Trust Fund (ITF) with a personal donation of ₦750 million.
Speaking on Thursday at the Olu Palace in Warri, Delta State, the monarch declared that peace and unity could only be achieved on the right foundation.
“For as much as we all desire peace and unity, it has to be on the right foundation of repentance, without which, true reconciliation cannot occur,” he said.
The king acknowledged that some members of the Itsekiri nation still felt aggrieved but insisted they remained his children, stressing that his reign was about healing, restoration and progress.
Reflecting on the journey so far, Ogiame Atuwatse III admitted there had been “many storms,” yet vowed to remain resolute in keeping the Itsekiri nation on course.
He urged his people to support one another, abandon mistrust, and speak the truth in love, warning that self-inflicted divisions only delayed the breakthrough they sought.
We have torn ourselves and pulled ourselves down long enough,” he said. “God has already blessed us, but He will not leave His throne in heaven to come downand help us.”
The monarch also unveiled the Iwere Trust Fund, a vehicle for development in Warri Kingdom, which he personally seeded with ₦750 million.
“I am leading by example and I have put my own resources into this vehicle, which, God willing, will inspire much progress and development for our people,” he said, inviting Itsekiri sons, daughters, friends and partners to join the effort.
Using a forest metaphor, the king described himself as the “keeper of the forest,” responsible for maintaining balance between the wild and domesticated, underscoring the need for order and unity under the Warri throne.
He encouraged his people to remain hopeful, citing a biblical verse once shared with him: “It is because God loved Israel that He made Solomon king over them.”
“It is because God loves Itsekiri, that He has given us Ogiame,” he affirmed, assuring that God had placed love and care for his people in his heart.
The ceremony drew dignitaries including representatives of the Delta State Governor, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Director-General of the DSS, service chiefs, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Warri local government chairmen, and a delegation from the Onu Igala, Agabaidu.
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