Governor Otu To Revamp Sports In C'River
By Edem ITA
Governor Bassey Otu has stated that his administration is committed to revamping the moribund sports sector in the state by deliberately initiating bold steps needed to address the appalling decay ravaging the sector in Cross River.
He contended that the such drastic steps have become imperative in order to reposition the sector towards regaining the eroded glory of the state in the sporting arena.
Senator Otu who gave the assurance while speaking at the closing ceremony of the South-South Zonal Elimination competition for team sports ahead of the National Youths Game slated for Delta next month, described as devastating, the systematic decay which has engulfed the sector due to neglect and managerial incompetence given the caliber of those at the helm affairs in recent times.
Senator Otu,who was represented at the event by his Special Assistant on Special Duties, Barrister Bassey Akiba disclosed that" government as a matter of urgency is set to intervene in addressing the dilapidated sporting infrastructure as a major step in revamping the sector".
"Our novel intention is to reposition our sport sector to attract national, continental, and global hosting nods which we once dominated. These competitions are necessary not only to expose our local talents but attract traffic to the state in order to stimulate our local economy".
He posited that," We intend to be extremely biased with regards to priority attention to sports. Our primary focus is to ensure the availability of needed facilities which would in turn provide an enabling pedestal for our sporting-inclined youths to develop their talents and project themselves to national and global limelight".
"We can't afford to allow our rich sporting antecedents to be confined to history. This administration will recalibrate the sector to replicate those enviable feats, restore our lost glory, and possibly host the National Sports Festival in the nearest future".
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports and Cinematography, Dr Okwenda Ogboaka applauded the state government for the interest demonstrated towards the sporting sector describing it as indicative of good things to come.
Also speaking, the Director of Sports, Cross River Sports Commission, Mr Moses Ita said the South-South Zonal Elimination was meant to produce champions from team sports who will represent the Zone at the National Youths Game slated for September in Delta.
He applauded the Governor for his peculiar interest in sports noting that such passion was needed to boost the political will to tackle the issues bedeviling the system.
In his remarks, the Director of Sports, Bayelsa, Sir Braveman Wodi who spoke on behalf of his colleagues expressed delight over the warm hospitality and hitch-free competition offered by the host state.
