Nigerians in Diaspora meet in New York over Unity Torch

Enugu constitutes executive committee on championship

Nigerians from all walks of life living in the Diaspora were expected to meet yesterday over the forthcoming Legends Wrestle for National Unity, a wrestling/cultural festival aimed at uniting all the tribes, religions and culture that make up the country.

The Legends Wrestle for National Unity, which will hold in Enugu from December 6 to 10, will feature international wrestling bouts involving the UPWF heavyweight champion, Osita Offor, also known as De Ultimate Commander, and some of the best matsmen in the world.

The event is being organised by the Enugu State government and some of the champions of national unity, including former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, children of the late Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, past and present federal legislators, among other patriots.

Speaking from New Jersey, where he is preparing for the event, De Ultimate Commander revealed that former Chairman, Police Service Commission, Chief Simon Okeke, arrived in New York from London on Tuesday for the meeting, where a committee to sensitise Nigerians on the event would be formed.

He said “the committee will also ensure smooth movement of the Unity Torch through the major cities of the United States that have sizable Nigerian population.

“The people involved in the programme in the Diaspora are some of Nigeria’s best brains in science and technology, education, as well as top business executives. They will decide the best way to promote national unity and patriotism among Nigerians.

“Former adviser to Bill Clinton on Ethnic and Religious Affairs, Nigerian-born Albert Ukaigwe will also attend the meeting. His experience in ethnic and religious matters will come handy in the quest to further unite Nigeria and get the citizens to think the country first in all they do.”

De Ultimate Commander revealed that his training is being supervised by former world wrestling champion, Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka, whose New Jersey gym is reputed as one of the best wrestling facilities in the world.

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government has constituted an executive committee to ensure a successful hosting of the event, the state’s Commissioner for Sports, Charles Ndukwe, has revealed.

According to Ndukwe, who is the chairman of the local organising committee (LOC), other members of the body are the state’s commissioners for Housing and Urban Development, Charles Asogwa, Water Resources, C.O.C Egumgbe, Information, Dr. Ogbuefi Uduegbele, Intergovernmental Matters, Chuka Smart Ogbe, Senior Personal Assistant to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on Tourism and his PDI counterpart, Abel Nwobodo.

One of the committee’s first assignments is to ensure a smooth transition of the Unity Torch from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to every part of the country before berthing in Enugu on the eve of the championship.