“As president of the AFN, I spent time, resources and energy to put together the first mountain race in West Africa at the beautiful resort and wonder of nature. We brought participants from as far as New Zealand.”
By Uzor Odigbo
Former Athletics Federation of Nigeria president, Dan Ngerem faulted Cross River State Government for allowing the Obudu Mountain race to die and has done sports and tourism a great disservice.
During his tenure as AFN president between 2001-2005 Mr. Ngerem brought innovations and events into athletics some of which include the Obudu Mountain Race and the Lagos International marathon sponsored by MTN then.
According to Lagos Mainlandnews.com, the Odubu Mountain race was conceived during a visit to Australia by Mr. Ngerem and the first MTN Nigeria Chief Executive Officer Adrian Woods. And in 2004, former Cross River governor Donald Duke bought into the idea and the first Obudu Mountain Race was born. It was the first race in Nigeria that offered $50,000 prize money.
Mr. Duke throughout his tenure sustained the race and so did his successor Senator Liyel Imoke, but the coming of Prof. Ben Ayade spelt disaster for the race and indeed other sporting events in the State.
“It is painful on multiple fronts that the Obudu Mountain Race was shelved,” said Mr. Ngerem
“As president of the AFN, I spent time, resources and energy to put together the first mountain race in West Africa at the beautiful resort and wonder of nature. We brought participants from as far as New Zealand.
“And come to think that the out-going governor is even from that area, this makes it more painful.”
Following the discarding of the event, the Obudu Mountain resort has been abandoned, it is now a ghost town and according to Ishmael Sadjo one Nigeria’s most prolific long distance runners, it is such a lamentable situation.
“It is very painful to us athletes, we all feel so bad and disappointed,” said Sadjo who came second in the last race that was organised in 2014.
“So many athletes from Cross River who trained and looked forward to racing at the Obudu Mountain every year had their ambition killed.
“Even the youngest runners coming behind have had their dreams dashed. If we had sustained the Obudu Mountain race for a long period no doubt we would be able to catch up with the East Africans in long distance…killing the Obudu Mountain race is like killing a tradition in the making