With the 2020 Governorship Election in Edo State just around the corner, athletes and officials in Edo State are gearing up for a mega rally in Benin City, the state capital in support of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The rally being organized by the Edo State Sports Commission, is billed to commence from 8:30am on Wednesday, September 9, ten days before the election.
The take off point for the rally, which will see the athletes, coaches and officials of the Commission go through major streets in the city, is the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
According to a schedule released by the Commission, the procession will commence at the stadium, move through Akenzua Street, Plymouth Road and turn off onto Ring Road; move from there to Akpakpava Street and then to Dawson Road. From Dawson Road, the procession will veer into Mission Road; from there move back to Ring Road from where it will proceed to Airport Road. From Airport Road the rally will move back into Akenzua Street from where it make it’s way back to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, its finishing point.
The rally by the sportsmen in support of Governor Obaseki by the athletes and their officials is their way of showing gratitude to his administration for the steady transformation of the sporting firmament in Edo State since he assumed office as Governor of the state in 2016.
They also say that beyond the face-lift given to dilapidated sports facilities and the construction of new ones, Governor Obaseki has paid more attention to the welfare of sportsmen than previous governors of the state.
Worthy of mention is the rebuilding of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium into a world class standard Stadium that will bring back international and national sporting activities and sports tourism back to the state. Its successful bid and the hosting of the forthcoming 20th National Sports Festival is a clear indication of his administration’s love for sports and youth development. He has created employments for teaming youths through Sports, he brought back the Edo State Sports Festival. His prompt payment of Pensions and Gratuity to retired sportsmen and women, with steady welfare for ailing old legends of the state is worth commending just to mention a few.
Godwin Dudu-Orumen Esq., Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission says Governor Obaseki’s giant strides in sports in the state are commendable noting that the rally is the Commission’s way of drawing the attention of the people of the state to his worthy achievements in the sports sector, and also drum up support for his second term bid.
“If he has accomplished so much in just four years, imagine what possibilities await us in the next four years. Governor Obaseki’s coming as governor has been a blessing to Edo State generally. For sports in particular, it has been a harvest of blessings. We are using this rally to make that point clear to all,” Dudu-Orumen said.
