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The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse, yesterday paid a courtesy visit to the governor of Ogun state, Prince Dapo Abiodun,Mfr. at the Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta,the state capital.
The Royal father and entourage, was accompanied by His Royal Majesty, Alake of Egbaland,Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, on his first visit to the state after his coronation.
He explained that his visit was to identify with the people of Yorubaland, as Warri people regard themselves as part of the Yoruba stock.
He said, “We are looking forward to building an history that exists between our people and the people of Yoruba nation. Now more than ever, Nigerians need to go back and understand, appreciate their roots, history and where they came from and in doing that, Nigerians will find that truly we are so intertwined, and interwoven.
“We are one and the same, and I think from that sense, we will be able to develop a stronger sense of unity, a strong sense of what it is to be Nigerians”.
In his remarks, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, said Nigerians are one and same people no matter where they come from, stressing the need for all Nigerians to promote their culture and work towards a united country.
While responding, Governor Abiodun called on Nigerians to see themselves as people with common ancestry, history and therefore work towards a peaceful and united country.
He noted that Nigerians, wherever they are, have a lot of things in common especially a deep cultural affiliation that defines them as people of indivisible entity, hence the need to live together in peace and harmony.
“We are from the same ancestry. We have a lot of things in common and are closely related with deep cultural affiliation. A Warri man speaks like a typical Yoruba man and this shows that despite the distance between us, we are the same person.
“Despite the fact that people moved and settled in different parts of the country, we are connected one way or the other, and this should be the essence of our unity”, the governor noted.
Prince Abiodun described the Olu of Warri as a well-brought up person with adequate education to carry out his role as a prominent monarch, expressing the hope that ancient city of Warri and its environs would experience development during his reign.
The governor, however, called on the Monarch to use his position as the of Olu of Warri to bring about peace in the Niger Delta, so that Nigeria could gain from its vast oil potentials that abound in the area.