Family remains most powerful institution of moral formation — Olu of Warri

Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri on Wednesday said the family remains the first and most powerful institution of moral formation.

The traditional ruler stated this at the ongoing ‘Exercise Haske Biyu 2025’, at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College(AFCSC), Jaji in Kaduna State.

Atuwase gave a lecture on ‘Strengthening Family Values for National Security: The Roles of Traditional Institution’.

The theme of this year’s exercise was ‘Family and National Security in Nigeria’.

He said trust must be central to the mission of traditional institutions.

“Traditional rulers, often through their chiefs, assign punishments to serve not just justice—but as a public deterrent.

 “Shame and honour operate powerfully in collectivist cultures, and the public nature of discipline reinforces societal boundaries, “he said.

Aruwase added that in spite of their influence, traditional institutions remained sidelined in the Nigerian constitution.

 According to him, traditional rulers are still held accountable for local security, but without any constitutional backing or resources to effectively enforce it.

He said that as militancy and terrorism were rising, these rulers were expected to gather intelligence, mediate conflicts, and help maintain peace.

“Yet, when crime strikes, security agencies often turn to them—not law enforcement—for answers,” the Aruwase said.

He said this placed them in a difficult position, adding, “while our grassroots connections can be valuable, over-reliance can lead to mistrust.”

Aruwase also said when a traditional ruler, or institution was perceived as a state informant, community trust was eroded, compromising the very flow of information critical to security.

He said, “Trust, then, must be central to the mission of traditional institutions.

“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 Real War: Fighting for Legacy and Values: The motto of the Nigerian Army is “Victory Comes from God.”

“And it speaks directly to the work before us—because this is not just politics or policy.


“This is war.Not with bullets—but with culture.
Not on battlefields—but in homes, schools, and hearts.Legacy must be fought for.

According to him, , even in peacetime, they understand what it means to fight for what matters.

Aruwase added, “What we seek—strong family values and moral clarity—will not come without resistance.

“War must be waged daily: in our minds, in parenting, in leadership, in the way we live our lives.

“The strength to fight comes from God. The victory also comes from God.Still, in this fight, we must also wield wisdom.

“As the old saying goes, “Discretion is the better part of valor.”We must apply both discipline and compassion.

 “Preparing the Future, not preserving the past traditional institutions will enduring not by clinging to old ways, but by preparing the future.”

He said values must be uphold, urging, ” the righteousness we enthrone, the justice we deliver, and the trust we build today—these are the seeds of a legacy that will stand tall tomorrow.

“Let us fight for it.
Let us build it.
And let us win not just for ourselves, but for generations yet to come.Victory comes from God.

He said but the courage to fight for legacy must come from all and sundry.

NAN