Septuagenarian wants to run Okpekpe Road Race

A 72-year-old palace chief of Onwueweko -In- Council, the Ofeweshi of Okpekpe, Chief John Dakwogi, wants to participate in the Okpekpe 10-Kilometre Road Race on May 16, but he fears the organisers may not want to register him for the event.

Dakwogi argues, “if the Governor could participate in the VIP category, I believe I am still strong enough at 72 to participate in the same VIP category. I know that I can still breast the tape.  But I have not been registered because I don’t know how to go about it before May 16.”

Meanwhile, a pensioner in the kingdom, Mr. Jacob Egwame, is excited that people from all over the world now know Okpekpe because it has become synonymous with the road race.

He noted that members of the community now countdown to the tournament, adding that the localization of the event has given the kingdom a global prominence.

Also speaking on the race, the Headmaster of Oduba Primary School, Ebelle-Okpekpe, Mr. Stanley
Etsenumhe, has revealed that the eve of the tournament is now another
festival to pupils in Edo North Senatorial District.

He noted that pupils from Etsako, Owan and others participated in the previous tournaments, adding, “they reminiscence on the event whenever they play their footballs in the streets.

“Most of them come to ask when the next super sports would come
up,” he said.