Nyok|13 November 2018
The Cross River State Government (CRSG) has accepted to participate in the 19th edition of the National Sport Festival billed to hold in the nation's capital, Abuja between 6th – 16th of December NEGROIDHAVEN can report authoritatively.
This disposition was expressed Monday by the Governor of the State, His Excellency Sen. Prof. Benedict Ayade, in the state capital, Calabar when he received the Torch of Unity from the Minister of Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung ably represented by the South South Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youths Development, Mr Sunny Ogochukwu.
'While explaining why Cross River could not host the festival this year disclosed that, 'We begged, we went to Lottery, we went to everywhere to beg for just a token to be added… And my governor wasn't happy, but, this is something that unifies the country. Like the torch is the Torch of Unity, and when you consider the fact that a child that was 15 in 2012 and 6 years after is 21, if we miss this opportunity to take part, it will be missed opportunity not only for us but for the younger ones. And the next festival is coming up 2023, the child will be 23; so governor said, look, we can't allow that to happen no matter our present state of mind and approved that we take part.
'Albeit, we are not going to take part in the team event, they had done the preliminary, we are going with 9 sports made up of strictly individual events: table tennis, wrestling, judo, weight lifting, athletics, swimming, and so on.
'When we got the letter from the Minister, “yes, they've taken over the Festival please, you have opportunity to still bid…” His Excellency just approved on Friday that we should bid to host the 2020 Sport Festival here in Calabar.
Duke explained why the centenary games of 2014 was originally ceded to Calabar, Cross River State and the inability of the state to host it, said that Calabar was earmarked to host the games because the city was where sports, particularly football began in the state capital city.
His words, 'The idea is this, 100 years of Nigeria in 2014 in the Federal Government's benevolence they just said take it to where sports started, take it to where football started that is why it was called centenary games, they brought it to Calabar in 2014.
'The other government could not host so they moved it to 2016, and they further moved it to 2018. So, they tried in my own opinion, that is why we have to reciprocate and participate in the festival taking place in Abuja.'
He disclosed that there are 7 legal cases in courts concerning the construction and rehabilitation of the dilapidated sports facilities in the stadium, but, promised to complete the facilities.
The Cross River contingent to this year's edition of the National Sport Festival will have 55 athletes who will come with a medal least of which will be silver.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is the Blogger-in-Chief, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of NEGROIDHAVEN