Governor Dickson Ogbia Unity Cup competition begins tomorrow

    Governor Henry Seriake Dickson Ogbia Unity Cup Competition for all communities in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa state, tagged, Ogbia Challenge would kicks off tomorrow, Monday.

    The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson disclosed this in a press briefing on unveiling of the Mascot for the Governor Dickson Unity Cup, Ogbia Challenge, at the Amphitheatre of the Information House, Yenagoa. 

   Mr. Iworiso-Markson who urged youths of Ogbia ethnic nationality to shun cultism, hard drugs and all forms of social vices and take the opportunity of the tournament to excel to be productive in society, reiterated the stance of Ogbia leaders to create the enabling environment for all youths in the area to excel in their endeavours.

   According to him the tournament was designed to strengthen the existing unity among the people of Ogbia local government area, stressing that no family or society could progress devoid of unity.

 “This football cup competition is not just a football cup competition. This is a very strategic platform to bring all Ogbia people together. Nothing brings people together than a game of soccer. It is only, always a game of soccer that you don’t know whether this person is a Muslim or a Christian or is from Edo State, Anambra or Jamfara. Once a game of football come into the feature we are all one. And that is why we are using it as a unifying force to bring all Ogbia people together. And that is why I’m so honour and privileged to have all our leaders here with us to underscore how united we are, as Ogbia people.

“The truth of the matter is you cannot achieve anything without unity; whether in your personal capacity as husband or as a family man or as a relation. In whatever capacity if you don’t have unity in a family that family cannot stand. After all they say in unity we are stronger, divided we fall.

And so for us we believe very strongly that a game of soccer should be deploy as we are deploying right now to mobilize our people, the youths across all over communities in Ogbia land and use football (soccer) to bring all of them together.

And in doing so we are setting up a very clear message to all our youths including all our leaders and elders, that we are stronger when we are united”, he stated.

   The Information Commissioner reaffirmed his determination in collaboration with other Ogbia leaders to expose the youths who will excel in the competition to outside the state and the world at large.

  “The leaders must provide opportunity for our youths to excel. And that is the overriding objective of this competition. To provide an opportunity for every Ogbia youth to take advantage of this platform to excel so that in the nearest future they can be playing for the big team in Europe, in American and all over the world. And we have able couches who are here,” said the Information Commissioner.

   The Commissioner maintained that apart from this competition, there would be another competition already approved by the state Governor. “The Restoration Cup”, which he said that the team that will emerge as winner of Governor Dickson Ogbia Unity Cup will participate.

   He used the opportunity to appeal to the media to assist by giving adequate publicity for the tournament.

   Unveiling the Mascot for the Governor Dickson Unity Cup, Ogbia Challenge, His Eminent, Obanobhan III of Ogbia Kingdom, King Dumaro Charles Owaba commended the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Iworiso-Markson for his good works and prayed God to continue to give him the wisdom to initiate programmes that would unite and strengthen the unity of Ogbia people.

   King Owaba who spoke through the Paramount Ruler of Ologoghe Community, HRH Johnny Johnny also used the forum to advise the youths of the area to embrace the programme.

   Also in his speech, the Chairman of the Ogbia Local Government Area Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party and Commissioner III in the Local Government Service Commission, Chief George Eto Okrinya who described the commissioner for information and orientation, Mr. Iworiso-Markson as a guru thanked him for packaging the programme and urged youths in the area to take advantage of the programme to excel for better future.  

   In her speech also, the chairperson of Ogbia Local Government Caretaker Committee, Madam Naomi  Ogoli, who acknowledged the present of the Caucus Chairman of PDP Hon. (Chief) George Eto Okrinya and Obanobhan of Ogbia kingdom, thanked  the Information and Orientation Commissioner for his vision to organize the tournament.

   She expressed the determination of Ogbia Local Government Council to partner with the commissioner to make the programme successful.

   According to her the council will reach out to the communities to participate actively in the programme and used forum to appoint Mr. Emmanuel Ekpokoba Udoh as her Special Adviser for Sports.

   In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of Governor Dickson Unity Cup Organising Committee , Chief  Emmanuel Ekpokoba Udoh  thanked the Honourable  Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson for giving them the opportunity to serve.

   He pledged on behalf of members of the committee to do their best to make the competition a great success.

   Ekpokoba announced that 32 teams from across various communities in Ogbia LGA will participate at the four designated centres -Opume, Kolo, Otuokpoti and Imiringi.

  Also present at the occasion were the commissioner for Power, Chief Partner Jim-Ogbolo, Commissioner for Special Projects, Chief Fred Obua, the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Chief Saviour Ibegi, Director General, Bayelsa State Investment Agency, Patience Abah as well as the Vice Chairman of Ogbia Local Government Caretaker Committee among others.