The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III has urged the Federal Government to formally strengthen the role of traditional rulers in Nigeria’s security framework as trusted custodians of values and discipline in communities.
The referred monarch stated this in Kaduna during the Exercise Haske Biyu 2025 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji.
The event has as its theme: “Strengthening Family Values as a Force for National Security: The Role of Traditional Institutions.”
Olu of Warri said despite being sidelined constitutionally, monarchs were often the first point of contact in matters of local security, noting that their grassroots influence can be harnessed to complement the work of law enforcement agencies.
“Traditional rulers must remain unbiased arbiters of justice—not tools of the state, but trusted guides who hold the moral fabric of their communities together,” the Olu said.
He argued that insecurity confronting the nation, from terrorism to banditry, were perpetrated by people who disregard long-established norms of family and community discipline.
The monarch stressed that restoring family values and rebuilding trust at community level must be seen as critical elements of national security.
Atuwatse III also recalled how discipline and order instilled in his own family through relatives who served in the Nigerian military shaped his appreciation of integrity and responsibility.
“Legacy must be fought for. What we seek strong family values and moral clarity will not come without resistance. That war must be waged daily: in our minds, in parenting, in leadership, in the way we live our lives,” he added.
The Olu further called for a balance of correction and compassion in raising future generations, noting that traditional institutions can help lead this effort if properly empowered.
