Nigeria’s real war is against moral decay, not bullets — Olu of Warri

Jaji, Kaduna — The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has warned that Nigeria’s greatest battle is not against armed insurgents but against the deeper challenge of moral decay eroding society.

The monarch gave the warning on Wednesday while delivering a lecture at the ongoing final training exercise Haske Biyu 2025 for senior military officers at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Kaduna. His lecture was titled: “Strengthening Family Values as a Force for National Security: The Role of Traditional Institutions.”

According to him, the foundations of discipline, order, and moral clarity—once rooted in strong families and traditional institutions—have collapsed, leaving gaps that insecurity exploits.

“I stand here not as an expert but as a family man and custodian of a traditional institution. Victory comes from God, but the courage to fight for a legacy must come from us. What we seek—strong family values and moral clarity—will not come without resistance,” the monarch said.

He stressed that insecurity cannot be defeated with weapons alone, since even the bravest soldiers are shaped by the values instilled in their homes. Recalling the influence of his late uncles, Squadron Leader Adebayo Shaw of the Nigerian Air Force and Colonel Kolawole Shaw of the Nigerian Army, the monarch said their discipline, punctuality, honesty, and courage left a lifelong imprint on him.

“The military’s greatest gift to society is not firepower, but the values it represents,” he said.

Although he once dreamt of joining the Navy, Ogiame Atuwatse III said his late father, Ogiame Atuwatse II, discouraged him, insisting that God’s purpose would prevail over human plans. Still, he noted that his conviction in the transformative power of discipline and justice has remained strong.

The Olu lamented that traditional rulers, despite being “custodians of values and arbiters of moral authority,” are often sidelined by government, even though they are expected to gather intelligence, mediate conflicts, and preserve peace.

“In a nation where people still identify first with their roots, rulers set the tone. When we embody integrity and discipline, our people follow. That is why traditional institutions remain relevant to national security,” he added.

He further warned that insecurity thrives where family discipline collapses and community cohesion fades, stressing the need to revive storytelling, proverbs, and communal living as moral guardrails.

“Our traditional institutions were the original storytellers, shaping codes of conduct. Even in this digital age, with proper support, we can still influence narratives and norms in society,” the monarch declared.

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