Oshiomhole Assures On Sports Dev

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has expressed his determination to ensure that the state regains its pride of place in sports in the country.

The Governor made the pledge at the flag-off of the reconstruction of the Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City at the  weekend.

The Governor who expressed concern at the current decline in sports in the state, said the state, as part of the Old Bendel State, always occupied the first position in organised sports competitions in the country.

To regain the top spot, Oshiomhole said that facilities at the Ogbe Stadium would be updated to world standards, pointing out that sports is a potent weapon to bring unity to the country.

He said the pitch would be laid with astro turf, known as FIFA turf and that on completion, the stadium would be capable of hosting Grade A FIFA matches and other international sports competitions. Earlier, the Project Consultant, Chief Mike Itemuagbor had assured the Governor that the FIFA turf would be laid with pipes to drain out water so that the turf would not be flooded.

He assured that  the work would be completed on schedule.  

 In another development, Deputy President, National Union of Petroleum and Gas, (NUPENG) Eddy Ossai has called for maximum co-operation with the Governor Oshiomhole  led administration in Edo State .     Speaking with newsmen in Benin, Comrade Ossai who is also vice chairman , Nigeria Labour Congress , Edo State Chapter, observed that the Edo workers are  privileged to have the comrade Governor, at the helm of affairs.      Urging the workers to discard dissenting voices who are condemning the demolition of illegal structures  upon by the state government, he noted that he was a victim of the exercise but had to concede for the overall development of the state.      

“We have been in Edo state for 30yrs now and we have not seen any government taken any bold step in terms of what the governor is doing,’’ Ossai noted  The labour leader  appeal to the Federal workers in the state to comply with the PAYE tax, saying without which  there can be no meaniful development in the state.  

Comrade Ossai who also decried the raising wave of crime in the country, called on stake holders, political leaders and  traditional rulers to join forces with the security agents to combat the menace.