Gov Ambode Says Sports Remains Veritable Tool For Nigeria’s Unity, Cohesion
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday received
the Torch of Unity to herald the forthcoming 19th National
Sports Festival coming up in Abuja next month, saying that sports remains a
veritable tool to engender the unity and cohesion the nation actually needs.
Speaking at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja after receiving the
torch, the Governor said he was glad that the Festival after the last edition
hosted by Lagos in 2012 was staging a grand comeback, adding that the State
would send a strong contingent of athletes and coaches to the Festival,
assuring that representatives of the State would be given all the adequate
welfare to excel at the games.
“It is my pleasure to receive the festival torch of unity and
this signals the commencement of the 19th National Sports
Festival that would take place in Abuja. Just like what we have been told, the
last National Sports festival was held here in Lagos six years ago and being
the last host, this is the last point of call before the torch goes back to
Abuja.
“We have a very strong contingent that we are sending to the
festival because we believe strongly that sports is a veritable tool that we
can use to command the unity and the cohesion that this nation actually needs
at this time.
“I believe strongly that we are not just supporting alone, we
believe that all the laurels and winning positions would be taken by Lagos
State. On behalf of all our sports men and women, I want to encourage them and
assure that we would make their entire stay in Abuja comfortable,” the Governor
said.
Governor Ambode also seized the occasion to encourage
politicians to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship in the coming general
elections, saying that beyond winning at the polls, the real essence of the
exercise is to create a stronger bond and cohesion among Nigerians.
He said like sports where winners and losers would emerge after
every competition, those vying for several positions in next year’s election
should embrace such mindset.
According to him, “Just like any other competition, we are in a
period of campaign and election that is coming, it is competitive, but this is
unlike national sports were everybody comes with the spirit of unity and we
believe strongly that our politicians should emulate our sports men and women,
were we should be able to come with the spirit of sportsmanship, there would be
winners and losers but in participating, we are creating that bond and cohesion
amongst ourselves.”
Also speaking Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Kweku
Tandor said Lagos State would be represented at the Festival by 442 male and
female athletes, 81 coaches and 50 other officials including welfare and
medicals.
He said the contingent from Lagos would be made up of athletes
that have been training and taking part in State organised competitions over
the years, adding that it would be profitable on the long run rather than
looking for foreign based professionals.
“One of the things that we have refused to do in Lagos is to go
all over the world and start looking for athletes to represent us because for
us we see the festival not just as a competition, but we see it as a
developmental tool and it’s for us, a measure of the work that we have been
doing over the years in developing our athletes,” he said.
Earlier, South West Zonal Coordinator, National Sports Festival,
Mr. Olufemi Ajao who presented the Torch of Unity to the
Governor, thanked him for according them hospitality, saying that he was
hopeful that the State would host the festival again soon.
“The torch has been going round the country, it has been to the
36 States and Abuja. Lagos being the host of the last Sports Festival, the
torch has to leave Lagos for Abuja straight away.
“You can remember that after Lagos State hosted, it has been
about six years now that we have been postponing it. But with this torch now,
it shows that the festival has come to stay, there is no more postponement. I
will plead with the Governor if Lagos can host the festival again so that we
can come and enjoy the hospitality and the rich culture of Lagos State,” he
said.
Gov Ambode Says Sports Remains Veritable Tool For Nigeria’s Unity, Cohesion
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