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‘Okpekpe road race privately run, not Edo government-owned’

By Gowon Akpodonor
27 April 2017   |   3:07 am
Those were the words of Joseph Nwobike, SAN, Counsel to Okpekpe International 10km road race, while reacting to a publication on the issue. He stated that the publication tagged, ‘Athletes, officials fault Edo Government on Okpekpe road race,’ was not based on proper investigation.

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“The Okpekpe International 10km road race is sponsored by a host of well-meaning organisations and corporations including the Edo State government. The Edo State government is neither the owner of the intellectual property known as and called the Okpekpe International 10km road race’ nor its organizer. The Edo State government is merely a participant.”

Those were the words of Joseph Nwobike, SAN, Counsel to Okpekpe International 10km road race, while reacting to a publication on the issue. He stated that the publication tagged, ‘Athletes, officials fault Edo Government on Okpekpe road race,’ was not based on proper investigation.

According to the story, some athletes and officials in Edo State faulted Governor Godwin Obaseki’s decision to continue with what they term as the ‘wasteful’ Okpekpe 10km road race.

But, according to Nwobike, in a letter to The Guardian, the race in internationally recognized and enjoys participation from world-class runners globally.“The race is a member of the International Association of Athletics Federations, which has awarded it the IAAF Road Race Bronze Label. The race is also a full member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races,” he stressed.“The publication portrayed the Race in bad light,” he added.

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