Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has thrown his weight behind renewed efforts to promote peace, unity and harmonious coexistence among the diverse ethnic communities in Warri and its environs.
Oborevwori, who spoke through the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, at the closing ceremony of the maiden Warri Unity Games at the Federal Government College (FGC), Warri, described sports as a powerful tool for strengthening relationships and building sustainable peace.
Tonukari, who represented the governor at the ceremony, conveyed Oborevwori’s warm regards to the organisers and participants, explaining that the governor could not attend personally because of pressing official engagements.
The governor commended the Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, for initiating the Unity Games, saying the sporting festival had created an opportunity for people from different communities to interact, compete and forge bonds of friendship.
According to Oborevwori, sports can serve as a bridge among diverse communities by breaking down imaginary barriers and encouraging greater understanding among the people.
“On behalf of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and the Delta State Government, I declare our absolute and resolute support for every community-driven initiative that enhances youth empowerment, cultural preservation and peaceful coexistence,” Tonukari said.
The governor urged the athletes and spectators to uphold discipline, fair play and mutual respect, expressing optimism that the friendships established during the games would contribute to a more united and prosperous Warri and Delta State.
The Ovie of Agbarha-Warri Kingdom, His Royal Majesty King Kingsley Emakpo Orereh, Ataneru Igbi II, also praised the Olu of Warri for initiating the sporting festival, describing it as a significant opportunity for reconciliation and renewed unity among the people.
Orereh urged residents to sustain the peace initiative beyond the sporting arena and appealed to those engaging in insults and inflammatory exchanges on social media to desist.
“I grew up in Ekpen Street and I used to say I am an Okere man because there was no difference between Urhobos and Itsekiris. In fact, I spoke Itsekiri more than Urhobo,” he said.
He appealed to the people to use the opportunity created by the Unity Games to pursue “total reconciliation”, stressing that intermarriages and longstanding family ties had made the communities inseparable.
In his address, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, said the Warri Unity Games were conceived to demonstrate that the people of the area had far more in common than what separated them.
The monarch announced that the games would henceforth form part of activities marking his coronation anniversary, with the first Saturday of the anniversary celebration week dedicated to promoting unity among all those who call Warri home.
He said the initiative was inspired by the need for the people to learn from the painful experiences of the past and ensure that history does not repeat itself.
Reflecting on the early 1990s, the Olu recalled how what was initially intended as a celebration of the coronation anniversary of his predecessor, Ogiame Atuwatse II, degenerated into conflict and violence, leaving consequences from which Warri had yet to fully recover.
He further recalled that Warri once had the potential to become a major national cultural tourism destination through its carnival, long before the emergence of the popular Calabar Carnival.
“Warri desires to rise again, and to rise better than before,” the monarch declared, stressing that the new initiative was designed to enable the people take charge of their future rather than allow conflict to dictate the direction of the area.
The Unity Games, therefore, emerged not only as a sporting event but as a broader platform for reconciliation, youth engagement and the rebuilding of relationships among Warri’s diverse communities.