The Center for Peace and Environmental Justice CEPEJ has decorated the Olu of Warri Ogiame Atuwatse III as its patron to mark this year’s International Day of Peace.
The Country Director of CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff Mulade said that the Itsekiri monarch was chosen as patron of the foundation because he promised to promote peace during his coronation ceremony.
Comrade Mulade said that the coronation speech of the Olu of Warri Ogiame Atuwatse the third made the foundation to make him its patron adding that CEPEJ strongly recognized the role of traditional rulers in preaching peace to their subjects.
He disclosed that he periodically organised peace football tournaments between the Ijaws and Itsekiris as part of efforts to curb youth restiveness in the society.
The CEPEJ Country Director congratulated the Olu for ascending the exalted throne of his forefathers.
Speaking in a similar vein, the CEPEJ Chairman Board of Trustee, Dr Godwin Orhadewhe, listed some of the contributions of CEPEJ towards peace and environmental justice and emphasised that having the Olu of Warri as one of CEPEJ patrons will go a long way to help spread the message of peace.
In his response, the Olu of Warri Ogiame Atuwatse the third thanked CEPEJ for the honour.
The Olu of Warri maintained that the message of peace cannot be over-emphasized as the absence of peace brings about underdevelopment, killing of innocent lives as well as the destruction of property.
Olu of Warri however prayed God to continue to strengthen CEPEJ as it goes about meeting its objectives and goals.
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly.
Two decades later, in 2001, the UN General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.
Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September.
