Abia affirms support for Commonwealth Wrestling tourney

Governor Theodore Orji, who made this assurance when he received the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the event at the Abia State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, noted that the state had severally supported the ambitions of its son, De Ultimate Commander, as he strives to rewrite the name of the state and Nigeria in wrestling.

Regretting that Nigeria had not produced a world acclaimed wrestler since the death of former world wrestling champion, Power Mike, Orji urged De Ultimate Commander not to relent in his effort at making the state proud. According to him, the government understood that the sport is capital intensive and will assist him in his endeavour.

” I know De Ultimate Commander has all the potential to become a world champion in an organised wrestling championship,” he said. “And I want to assure both the LOC and De Commander that Abia will do everything possible for the championship to be successful in Nigeria.”

The governor disclosed that Enyimba Stadium in Aba would be made ready for the Commonwealth championship.

Meanwhile, a member of the LOC, Emeka Inyama, while presenting the WWP President, Mark Beale, to the governor, disclosed that the championship had been shifted to October after the LOC reached an agreement with WWP that June and July was not conducive because South Africa would host the first FIFA World Cup on an African soil in those months.

He added that both bodies agreed to have the championship in October to mark the golden jubilee of Nigeria’s Independence. The WWP Commonwealth Champion of Champions wrestling is expected to feature about 40 wrestlers, who will fight for honours at the one-month tournament.