By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, has urged Nigerians to strengthen family values as the bedrock of national security, stressing that the family remains central to character formation in the country’s collectivist society.
The monarch delivered the charge on Tuesday at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, while addressing senior military officers and paramilitary participants of a three-week training programme tagged Haske Biyu.
Drawing from personal reflections, Ogiame Atuwatse III credited his upbringing, particularly the discipline instilled by uncles who served in Nigeria’s Air Force and Army, m, with shaping values such as integrity, punctuality, and resilience in adversity.
He maintained that traditional rulers, as custodians of culture, act as “societal thermostats,” influencing the moral and cultural temperature of their communities through their conduct and decisions.
“The family is where character is formed,” the Olu of Warri said, noting that in Nigeria’s collectivist society, an individual’s conduct directly impacts family reputation and community trust.
He linked weak family foundations to rising insecurity, including terrorism, kidnapping, and organized crime, which often involve people acting against inherited moral norms.
He also expressed concern that traditional institutions, though expected to support local security, remain sidelined in the Nigerian Constitution and lack the resources to carry out their responsibilities effectively.
Yet, he argued, these institutions have historically been the original storytellers and value-shapers, a role that remains relevant even in today’s digital age.
Recalling his youth near Warri’s naval base (NNS Umalokun), Ogiame Atuwatse III said he once aspired to merge royal heritage with military service before life took a different path.
Quoting Proverbs 19:21, he emphasized the importance of divine purpose: “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”
The Olu further advised that discipline in society must be balanced with compassion, “not just the rod, but also the rice”, to strengthen communal trust.
He urged traditional rulers to remain impartial arbiters of justice and moral guides, holding communities together amid present-day challenges.
“The strength to fight comes from God. The victory also comes from God. Still, in this fight, we must also wield wisdom,” he said.
“Let us fight for it. Let us build it. And let us win, not just for ourselves, but for generations yet to come.”
