Paralympics athletes seek Governor Okowa’s blessing

The duo of Bose Omolayo and Nnamdi Innocent were part of Team Nigeria to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where the nation finished as Africa’s No 1 with 12 medals, including eight gold. It was Nigeria’s best ever performance at the Games.

While some of the athletes and their coaches have been accorded ‘special love’ by their state governors, it had been a waiting games for Omolayo and Innocent, who are indigenes of Delta State.

“I was so excited on the day Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State rolled out a red carpet to honour three of my colleagues,” Omolayo, a gold medalist at the Games told The Guardian during the week in Lagos. “Okorocha gave N1m and a brand new car to each of them also rewarded their coach with cash and a car each.

“Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun also honoured one of their indigenes with N1m and training kits, and also gave N500, 000 to her coach. We have been praying and hoping for same gesture to come our way from our state governor, (Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa). Maybe, he is not aware that some of the athletes who did the country proud at the Rio 2016 Paralymic Games are from Delta State. Please help us pass the message to him,” Omolayo pleaded.

Three members of Team Nigeria to the Paralympic Games in Rio, Ezuruike Roland, Nwosu Ndidi and Josephine Orji, are from Imo State. They won gold in powerlifting events, and were rewarded with N1m cash and a car each by Governor Okorocha, who equally doled out cash and a car to each of their coaches.

On his part, Governor Amosun honoured the state female athlete, Mrs. Latifat Tijani, who won a silver medal with the sum of N1m and training kits, just as her coach, Mrs. Kemi Oyebola, got N500,000.

Now, the two special athletes from Delta State are feeling ‘dejected.’ “We know that the present economic situation is affecting all the states, but if Imo, Ogun and some other states can honour their indigenes who were part of Team Nigeria to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, I am very sure my Delta State can do it for us,” Omolayo told The Guardian at the National Stadium, Lagos.

At the Paralympic Games in Rio, Bose Omolayo, an indigene of Ibusa, in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State won gold in the women’s -79kg Powerlifting event after lifting 138kg to set a new Paralympic Games and World Records.

Omolayo outclassed China’s Xu Lili (silver) and Taipei’s Lin Tzu-Hui (bronze), as she shattered her own World Record (WR) and set a new one of 138kg.

Nnamdi Innocent, who hails from Ogwashi-Uku in Delta State, got a bronze medal for Team Nigeria at Rio 2016 paralympics in the men’s -72kg class.

Innocent narrowly missed the gold, after his first attempt at 203kg, which elevating him to the top spot was cancelled by China’s Lei Liu with his superior first attempt of 216kg.

Their coach, Jude Iduh, a native of Ute-Okpu in Ika North East council area of the state says it would be a thing of joy for his athletes to be honourned by Governor Okowa. “These are special athlete who should be encouraged, especially now that they did us proud at the Rio Olympics.

Since the governors of Imo and Ogun honoured their colleague, Omolayo and Nnamdi have been looking forward to see a similar reward from our state governor. It will go a long way in boosting their morale. They keep asking questions on when Governor Okowa will reward them,” Coach Iduh who oversees powerlifting in Delta State Sports Commission said.