It was jubilation galore on Saturday, November 16, 2024 in Ode-Itsekiri, the ancestral community of Itsekiri people home and abroad otherwise called ‘Big Warri’ as the 2024 edition of the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Football Tournament was formally declared open in the ancient town.
The opening ceremony featured popular Ex-football internationals including Sam Sodje, Edema Fuludu and Bright Omokaro, among dignitaries that graced the flag-off ceremony.
Other notable personalities in attendance comprised the chairman of Local Organising Committee, Hon. Kenneth Nwaomucha, representatives of Ode Itsekiri in the likes of Hon. E.A.E. Otare Aja, Comr. Ejoh Dimas (Secretary-General of Ode Itsekiri), Emma Ogungbemi, Rieco Tsoluwa, Comr. Asakpi Richardson (Chairman, Warri South-West NULGE, and Training Officer, Delta State Football Referees Council). Others are Prince Samson Ochuko (Chief Inspector of Education, Warri South-West LGA), Rev. Oreva Idudhi (Vice Principal, Kokodiagbene Secondary School), with officiating referee Ede Gift and assistant referees Asakpi Toritseju and Ogaga Diare, just to mention a few.
It will be recalled that the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup Competition is organised and sponsored by the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) in collaboration with the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), among others.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony which featured a novelty football match between two teams comprising Ijaw and Itsekiri in one team and Ndokwa, Ika, Isoko and Urhobo in another team, the National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Chief Sheriff Mulade revealed that this year’s competition, which is the fifth edition of the tournament, has spanned over 10 years and is aimed at promoting peace and unity among the various ethnic nationalities in Delta State.
The CEPEJ boss noted that the November 16 flag-off date for the tournament “was deliberately picked to buttress the importance of peace as the date marks the United Nations International Day of Tolerance celebrated worldwide”.
Chief Mulade therefore called on all peace-loving people of Deltan State to “embrace the tournament as a competition which promotes peace and foster unity, and also see it as an avenue for improved opportunities for more meaningful development and empowerment in the various communities across the state.
The Peace Ambassador expressed gratitude to the host community, Ode Itsekiri, “for the warm reception accorded stakeholders at the flag-off ceremony”. He appealed to other stakeholders to key into the peace and unity project for the good of all Deltans.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Executive Chairman of Ode Itsekiri, Mr. Anthony Odonghanro, thanked the organisers “for availing the community the opportunity to host the flag-off ceremony of the tournament”.
Odonghanro lamented the “under-usage” of the world standard Ode Itsekiri football pitch, built by the former chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinniki, and called on sports enthusiasts within and around the community to see the tournament as a wake up call.
Also speaking during the ceremony, ex-international Fuludu, an ex-Super Eagles and Nations Cup winner 1994, lauded the organisers for initiating the tournament stressing that it fosters unity and development.
Fuludu, who is also the Deputy Secretary General of Nigeria Players Union and a former deputy chairman Delta Football Association (DFA), recalled how football stopped the Nigeria Civil war when the legendary Pele came to the country in a featured match.
According to him, “football as a tool and platform can help the youths to attain greater heights, to shun drug abuse, and create leadership qualities in youths by ensuring they abide by rules”.
Meanwhile, the novelty football match, which also witnessed entertainment from the Itsekiri cultural troupe, ended at full time in two goals to nil in favour of the Ijaw/Itesekiri team against the Isoko, Ndokwa Urhobo and Ika team. It is worthy of note that this is the first team Ijaw’s and Itsekiri are forming and playing on the same side.
Our correspondent learnt that beginning from Sunday, November 17, the tournament kicks off with fixture matches to be played across Delta State by 24 participating teams drawn from the six ethnic nationalities of the State that will be competing for the prize money of N5million at the grand finale on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at Oreorokpe town in Okpe LGA of Delta State.
