Edo State Govt To Stop Encroachment Into Okpekpe Ceremony Venue

Edo State Govt To Stop Encroachment Into Okpekpe Ceremony Venue … As Super-sports holds in Fugar

The Edo State Government may write to halt the continuous encroachment into the land for the makeshift pavilion for the Okpekpe 10 kilometre road race ceremony, it was learnt yesterday.

The venue, according to a highly placed source in the Edo State Government, who made this disclosure to in confidence on a telephone chat, is already shrinking, yet there are some clandestine plans for some people to erect a structure on part of the land.

Ogwa-Agbige, which is the community’s square for secular celebrations has been the ceremonial venue of the Okpekpe 10 Kilometer since its inception in 2013.

The source maintained that: “Whereas the venue which is always too small for surging mammoth of crowd from all walks of life needs expansion, developers are now eager to have their fair share of the land, which belongs to the community by extension the Edo State Government.

“Immediately at the end of this years road race, High Royal Highness, the Onweweko of Okpekpe, Peter Abalume Osigbemeh will receive a letter from the Commissioner of Sports banning developers from encroaching into the land.

The letter will also criminalise further development on the land.”Our correspondent also gathered that Supersports which always precedes the road race will not hold in Okpekpe this year because the organisers want neighbouring Local Government Areas to have a feel of the tournament.

This year’s Supersports with an estimated turnout of over 2,000 school children will hold in Fugar, the head quarters of Etsako Central Local Government Area owing to the chairman’s friendly disposition to the fiesta.

Hon. Emma Momoh, the council chairman, it was learnt, “last year conveyed pupils from his LGA to Okpekpe for the Supersports and he is very Super-Sports friendly.”

The organisers, according to our source, will keep rotating the Supersports leg of the tournament through the neighbouring LGAs before returning it to Okpekpe.

Okpekpe Road Race Has Increased Businesses, Says Council Secretary…

Okpekpe Road Race has increased businesses, says council secretary…various sports groups are springing

The Secretary to Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. Benedicta Attoh yesterday said that the Okpekpe 10 Kilometer Road Race, which commenced in 2013 has increased local and small businesses in the community and its environs.

In a text message, she noted that the tournament has placed Okpekpe on the global map. The secretary added that the tournament has culminated in the establishment of various sports groups.

Her words: “The 10 kilometer road race has impacted positively on the lives of the citizens and the community at large in so many ways. Firstly, it has increased local and small businesses in the catchment area especially during the event thereby boosting the local economy.

“It has also placed the community on the world map. Thirdly, it has raised an awareness of sports among the local people and Nigerians as a whole . Within the Okpekpe community, various sports groups are springing up as a result of the road race. ”

A retiree in Okpekpe, Jacob Egwame maintained that the event has not only brought the community to a limelight, it has also created an avenue for petty traders to make brisk business.

He said that to the people, that the impact has been an awareness that such an important international event takes place “in their once forgotten and neglected area to which they now look forward annually for its staging.”

Another indigene of Okpekpe, Barrister Timothy Itere said that the tournament has brought Okpekpe Community into international limelight, impacting positively in the socio-economic activities of the community.