THE Olu of Warri Kingdom, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, (CON), Wednesday assured the Itsekiri nation that no part of the kingdom would be ceded to anybody, no matter the degree of violence visited on his people and communities.
He also charged the people to always remember who they were and be good ambassadors at all times while making good contributions to the improvement of their heritage and fortunes.
The royal father gave the assurance and admonitions in an address to the Itsekiri nation as part of activities marking his Silver Jubilee coronation anniversary at Ode-Itsekir (Big-Warri), yesterday.
Ogiame Atuwatse II, who said his 25 years on the throne had witnessed ups and down, however, thanked the Almighty God for seeing him through the most turbulent years of his reign.
He said: “It is right and fitting for us to give thanks to God as we appreciate all that He has given us and has done for us, all these years.
In spite of the strong wind of opposition which we did not initiate, God has preserved us and has kept us going. We give thanks to Him.
“Although we had a lot of wicked acts of aggression and oppression directed against us, we are still standing, not with our heads bowed in shame and defeat, and loss of hope and credibility, but with the confidence that God is with us, and God being for us, no one can be against us and defeat us.
“The grip of occultic and fetish forces has been loosed from Iwereland by the power of God.”
He made reference to his installation of Dr. Mark O. Erumi as the current Chaplain of Warri Kingdom and expressed the hope that the kingdom would look forward to greater things from the Almighty God.
Concluding his address, His Majesty said: “There is also the need and challenge to preserve our land and use same for the benefit of our people.
“By the grace of God, no part of our land shall be ceded to other people, no matter how we may be attacked. We shall keep developing and preserving what God has given to us, which our forefathers passed on to us. By the grace of God, we shall pass the same to our upcoming generations.”
He charged the Itsekiri never to forget who they were and be good ambassadors and contributors to the improvement of their heritage and fortunes.
