72-year-old Chief Seeking Okpekpe Race Glory
A 72-year-old palace chief of Onwueweko -in- Council, the Ofeweshi of Okpekpe, Chief John Dakwogi, yesterday vowed to participate in the Okpekpe 10 Kilometre Road Race scheduled for May 16 in Edo State.
He however expressed his worry that his only snag is how to get registered for the race.
According to him, “if the governor of Edo (Adams Oshiomhole) could participate in the VIP category, I believe I am still strong enough at 72 to participate in the same VIP category.
I know that I can still breast the tape,”enthused the chief who athletics aficionados believe is only making a suicidal attempt at the race.
The chief however allayed the fears of organisers of the race when he admitted his inability to get registered. One of the conditions to all participants is certification of good health from an approved hospital.
“I have not been registered because I don’t know how to go about it before May 16,” stressed the Okpekpe chief.
The Headmaster of Oduba Primary School, Ebelle-Okpekpe, Mr. Stanley Etsenumhe, confirmed that the eve of the tournament has become a festival of sort for pupils in Edo North Senatorial District.
He noted that pupils from Etsakor, Owan and Akoko Edo local governments participated in the previous races most especially the 2014 edition covered live by pay TV channel, Supersport.
“The pupils have a reminiscence of the event whenever they play their football in the streets. Most of them come to me asking when next Supersport would visit the community again,” he said.
Also speaking on the race, a pensioner from the community, Mr. Jacob Egwame, said Okpekpe is now associated with the road race.
He noted that the event has become a great expectation that everyone in community now do countdown to the day of the race.
Describing the localisation of the event in Okpekpe as a well thought-out programme with which the organisers have put the community in global prominence, he prayed that the chief mastermind; Mr. Mike Itemuagbor, continues to grow from strength to strength.