PH Mundial – Port Harcourt Online Newspaper News Across The Region
Related Articles
… As Renew Entertainment kick-starts Ogbia Traditional Wrestling Festival in Otueke
By Amos Odeh, Yenagoa
The chief of staff to the Bayelsa State governor, Chief Benson Agadaga, has described former President Goodluck Jonathan as the icon of modern democracy.
This, Agadaga, a former school mate to GEJ, said while speaking with journalists on the occasion of the 64th birthday of the former Nigerian leader in Yenagoa.
He noted that Jonathan’s legacies on human capital/infrastructural developments in the state as governor and president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would remain indelible on the sand of time.
Agadaga said that the 13 universities established by President Jonathan highlights his belief that education remains the most potent weapon to outlaw underdevelopment in the country.
The chief of staff thus declared that the sacrifices made by Jonathan is responsible for the indivisibility that the Nigerian state has continued to enjoy, particularly in his putting Nigerians above personal interest.
Agadaga, who described the former president as a quintessential gentleman, said his continued promotion of peace earned him the exalted seat as the United Nation ambassador.
He, however, lauded the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation and the various peace missions in the African continent and the international community that has endeared the former leader to the globe.
To this end, Agadaga prayed for good health, longevity and wisdom for Jonathan as he continued to deliver quality service to better the Nigerian state and humanity at home and in the Diaspora.
Meanwhile, the CEO of Renew Entertainment and Resort, Engr Gospel Obolo, has said that because former president Goodluck Jonathan is an icon, he decided to kick start the 17-day Ogbia Traditional Wrestling Festival, tagged: ‘Ibei Onin,’ on the former Nigerian leader’s birthday to honour him.
He expressed belief that the former president’s name and presence would attract dignitaries and tourists to the event which is going to be an annual event for local and international tourists.
Obolo spoke to journalists after declaring open the event which attracted tumultuous crowd to the ancient community of Otueke, the birthplace of former president Goodluck Jonathan.
He said he was motivated to start the Ogbia Traditional Wrestling festival out of his passion to promote the traditional wrestling festival which is fast going into extinction and use it to encourage the youths of Bayelsa State to change the narrative of being associated with kidnapping, armed robbery, militancy, youth restiveness and other social vices.
He said if they take to wrestling they can become stars, as his plans are to train the winners at the end of the competition to international standards with the facilities and personnel on ground, adding that “with traditional wrestling Ogbia communities can be united”
Obolo disclosed that Ogbia local government is made of 54 communities that are surrounded by 273 communities from three local governments of Bayelsa State, namely Nembe, Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw which are also linked to some local government areas in Rivers State.
He said he sees this annual festival as an annual tourism festival that would showcase the hospitality and business opportunity to contribute immensely to the economy of the state, and beckoned on public spirited individuals and corporate bodies to sponsor the event.
Obolo added that he grew up to see unity, tradition, respect leaders that taught him to defend and also learn from their hard work, which made him to remember that “our traditions are important for our youths benefit future, all of these are fast fading away.
“If we can go back to our roots for the rest of the world to learn and understand that tourism and history supports every economy of the world,” he said.
