By Francis Sadhere

The Olu of Warri Kingdom, HRM Ogiame Atuwatse II today commended President Goodluck Jonathan for performing the ground breaking ceremony of the 16 billion dollar Export Processing Zone, EPZ, project located at Ogodigben in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State before the general elections, noting that the project will benefit not only Deltans but Nigerians as well.

Olu of Warri, HRM Ogiame Atuwatse II and his wife, Olori Atuwatse

The Warri monarch gave the commendation while addressing the Itsekiri Nation during 28th Coronation Anniversary of the Olu of Warri held at the palace of the monarch in Warri.

The Warri monarch appealed to his people living around the EPZ project location to continue to play their part in ensuring that the environment is made conducive for everybody.

He enjoined the younger generation to strive to work hard and earn a decent living for themselves, calling on the elderly ones to show good example to the younger ones.

While noting that this year’s celebration was done amidst several major events in Nigeria, which includes the general elections, the Warri monarch said he  thanked God that despite widespread speculation of violence during the elections, the election were conducted peacefully.

“People have been elected, some we wished and some not as we wished, bit we thank God for all of them. We pray that through them there will prosperity for all of us. We hope too that those elected will learn to do better in office so that our burdens in the nation may be made lighter and for life to be better for us and our children,” said the Warri monarch.

The Olu of Warri also noted that though this year’s celebration was not a major one, he thanked God for giving them the opportunity to celebrate, praying that God should bless them to carry out the major ones in the coming years.

The ceremony which started with paying of homage to the monarch by his subjects from different clans  of the kingdom also witnessed colourful cultural displays by the people of the Itsekiri nation.