.....launches Unity Cup Football Competition
By Henrietta Umoh
A broadcast Journalist and member of the Governor's Press Corps, Comrade Charles Bassey of Radio Nigeria, Atlantic FM, Uyo has concluded plans to launch a Peace, Unity and Development Programme for the people of Ward 9, Ikono, Uyo local Government area.
The Broadcast Journalist and Media for Development Expert made this know during an event to mark the memorial of the demise of his mother, Mrs. Imah Bassey Silas in Uyo.
Comrade Bassey noted the lack of peace and unity among the people of Ward 9, Ikono-Uyo and Ikono Clan in general and pointed out that the sad trend had made development elude the clan which had suffered gross neglect since the creation of the state.
He pointed out that it was only where there was Love that there would be Unity and that Unity would pave way for peace to thrive thus also paving way positive development to thrive.
Sports he said, was one of the major ways Unity could be fostered. To this end he announced the plans for a Peace and Unity Football competition
he said, "I am formally announcing the flag-off off the activities for the kickoff of the maiden edition of the Ntak Inyang Ikono Ibom, Unity cup football competition for the nine villages of ward 9 Ikono, Uyo local government area."
The Gold plated trophy and a Cash prize of fifty thousand naira for the winning team were donated to the leaders of the community while a local organizing committee to handle the competition would soon be instituted!
Comrade Bassey further stated that, "Talented Players discovered during the competition will be picked by professional coaches and scouts drawn from youth soccer academies that would be coming in from Lagos, Port Harcourt and Enugu respectfully while selected players would thereafter be groomed to be future soccer stars!"
Ahead of the release of registration forms for the competition, the youths from the competing villages within the ward have been converging daily on the school football fields in their areas to either train, watch their village team train, and to support them! Others trooped out to sell pure water and sacks for the players. These activities has kept the youths engaged positively thus channeling their youthful energies away from social vices!
The Uyo born Journalist emphasized that when the competition kicks off proper, it would foster true Unity which had been lacking in the community as youths, Children, men and women the old and young would exchange visits regularly and would also receive visitors from other villages as well. This will promote Unity amongst the people!
according to Comrade Charles who we gather has since 2014 nursed ambition to serve his people at the grassroot level, "this is my humble contribution to the development of my community which has for decades suffered gross neglect and no development in spite the fact that it is a major clan of Uyo, the capital city of Akwa Ibom state which witnessed an acclaimed uncommon Transformation!"
He however was full of praises to Governor Udom Emmanuel who he said was creating a firm foundation for the future of Akwa Ibom youths but appealed to the Leaders of the clan particularly political leaders of Ikono clan to represent them at the state level.
Decrying the way and manner some leaders past and present never did much to draw attention of the Governor to their plight, he said, "many of our elders have been opportune to serve in high and privileged political offices, holding good positions at state and Local Government level but we don't feel their impact."
He thanked the Chairman of Uyo Local Government, Elder Imoh Okon for drawing attention of the lack of access roads in and out of the clan which prompted the Governor to announce an approval for the construction of a road in Ikono clan adding that, " Ikono Clan remains the only clan in Uyo that has not seen a viable tarred road criss-crossing it since the creation of the state." "the one that would have been the first was initiated by NDDC which tricked us and abandoned the road for for seven years now" He said.
it was not to clear what office the Uyo broadcast Journalist is gunning for, but speculations are rife that he would be taking a shot at the Councillorship of Ward 9, Uyo Local Government area.
It would be recalled that the Broadcaster and son of a retied journalist had once aspired to be Chairman of Uyo since 2015 but shelved the ambition to support the Candidature of Elder Imoh Okon, the present Chairman of the local Government area.
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