Otu flags off maiden edition of Agbokim marathon race
Ani Bassey
Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu, at the weekend, flagged off the maiden edition of Agbokim falls green marathon race at Ikom local government area.
The race designed into three segments accommodated professionals who embarked on 42km race while the locals engaged in 21 and children, 10 kilometres race, respectively.
The Governor said the idea of decentralizing activities of government is to ensure that the citizenry continuously feel the pulse of governance wherever they are situated.
Otu who was represented by the Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon Agnes Atsu, remarked that when youths are engaged in sporting activities, it helps curb all kinds of criminality.
“Our idea is that people should not remain in Calabar and feel government, so we try to take government down to the rural communities.
“We are hoping to see another marathon in the northern senatorial district, having held one already in Calabar, the southern senatorial district.
“All these are geared towards ensuring that the entire Cross Riverians witness what is known as marathon,” the governor remarked.
He disclosed that the event next year would take a different shape as the level of sponsorship would improve with more athletes registering and participating even as the event would be turned to an international event.
The governor encouraged participants to keep practising and remain resilient in sporting activities, if they must win laurels.
“Nobody has lost, no one is losing. As long as you have started and you are completing the race, you have not lost.
“For those who came earlier than the rest, I encourage you to do better because this is just a small one. For those who felt that they didn’t come first, resilience is what matters and I urge you to keep practising to win the race next time,” the governor advised.
Plateau born Nenfort Matthias Gofwen, aged 35, won the 42km race from Ikom-Ajasor-Agbokim and carted home N2 million, while Shehu Muazu Adamu and Nyango Gyang, both from Plateau emerged second and third positions, clinching N1 million and N750,000 respectively.
At the female category for 42 km race, Blessing Solomon Shambor who hails from Boki emerged first, also carting home N2 million, while Delta born Agofure Charity who got her training in Plateau came second going home with a prize of N1 million and Elizabeth Nuhu from Plateau emerged third carting home N750,000.
For the 21 km race (males category) Effiong Orok, Emeka John and Charles Umoh emerged first, second and third positions respectively while Godsmind Nelson, Perpetual Happiness Ofoke and Patience Eteobong came first, second and third respectively in the 21km females category.
Others who emerged victorious for the 10km categories were, Alexandar Saviour, Emmanuel Emmanuel and Agbor Abednego arriving first, second and third respectively.
For the females 10km category, Angel Nelson came first while Sophia Etim and Immaculater Odu emerged second and third respectively.
