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Delta State Governor, 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.

The governor spoke through the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, at the closing ceremony of the maiden Warri Unity Games held at the Federal Government College (FGC), Warri.

Representing the governor at the event, Tonukari conveyed Oborevwori’s warm regards to the organisers and participants, while expressing the governor’s regret at his inability to attend personally due to pressing official engagements.

Oborevwori commended the Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, for initiating the Unity Games, describing the sporting festival as a laudable platform for bringing people from different communities together, strengthening relationships and building lasting bonds of friendship.

The governor said sports remained a powerful instrument for promoting peace, noting that it could help break down imaginary barriers and foster greater understanding among diverse communities.

“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.

He urged athletes and spectators to sustain the spirit of discipline, fair play and mutual respect displayed during the competition, expressing optimism that the friendships forged through the games would contribute to a more united and prosperous Warri and Delta State.

Also speaking, the Ovie of Agbarha-Warri Kingdom, His Royal Majesty King Kingsley Emakpo Orereh, Ataneru Igbi II, praised the Olu of Warri for conceiving the sporting festival, describing it as a significant opportunity for reconciliation and the renewal of unity among the people.

The monarch urged residents to extend the spirit of peace beyond the sporting arena, particularly calling on those involved in insults and inflammatory exchanges on social media to desist.

Reflecting on his childhood experience, Orereh said there was historically little distinction among the communities, recalling that he grew up in Ekpen Street and identified closely with both Urhobo and Itsekiri people.

“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 seize the opportunity created by the Unity Games for “total reconciliation”, stressing that decades of intermarriages and longstanding family relationships had made the various communities inseparable.

In his address, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, said the Unity Games were conceived to demonstrate that the people of Warri had significantly more in common than the issues that had historically divided 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.

According to him, the initiative was inspired by the need to learn from the painful experiences of the past and ensure that history does not repeat itself.

The monarch recalled the crisis of the early 1990s, when what was originally 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 also recalled Warri’s former potential as a major national cultural tourism destination through its carnival, noting that the city had pioneered a vibrant carnival culture long before the emergence of the now-popular Calabar Carnival.

“Warri desires to rise again, and to rise better than before,” Ogiame Atuwatse III declared.

He stressed that the Unity Games were part of a broader effort to reposition Warri by encouraging its people to shape their future through unity, peace and cooperation, rather than allowing conflict to dictate the city’s destiny.

The maiden Unity Games thus ended with a renewed call for reconciliation, stronger community relations and a collective commitment to rebuilding Warri as a peaceful, united and prosperous city.