Kunle Adelabu
After an intense primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the state, the Chairmanship candidate of the party in Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun (HOA) has initiated a football tournament to unite the people of the council area.
The tournament is being sponsored by the chairmanship candidate of the APC in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun and supported by others.
The maiden edition of the tournament tagged, “HOA Unity Cup”, kicked off at the U.A.M.C (Eleja) Primary School, Igbogbo on Democracy Day.
In the opening match, Alabiamo Allstars, Agunfoye defeated Be Happy All-Star, Ibeshe 7 – 6, after a penalty shootout after the match ended 0 – 0 at the regulation time.
There are cash prizes for the top three teams and other prizes for individual performances.
According to the Chairman of the HOA Unity Cup, Mr Adeoye Obayomi, 12 teams from the five wards in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA are participating in the tournament which is being run on a knockout basis.
“It is not a competition per se, but an avenue to bring all the aspirants and candidates together to unify them and let them know that the game of politics is not a do or die affair. We want our people to be united for the progress of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA and its environs.
“We believe that once somebody has emerged, we should all embrace him and support each other for a set goal which is development of the community,” he said.
Barr. Ade Ayeni, Secretary to the Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA and the Vice Chairmanship candidate who represented Hammed Aroyewun, also speaking said that the tournament is a continuation of efforts to get youth and residents engaged and foster unity and cooperation.
He said that football and other sports engagements have over the years brought about positive developments by harnessing the talents of youths and promoting cooperation.
The Vice chairmanship candidate assured that the new administration will sustain the Unity Cup and other sporting activities in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA.
Comrade Ogunmuyiwa Kazeem, a chieftain of the HOA Ona Ogo team, stressed that the tournament is to resolve the challenges posed by politics in recent times and mobilize the youth and the entire community towards development.
“It’s all about politics, and unity has a vital role to play in it. For some period, it is obvious that within the community politics tore us apart and we felt that it should not be that way, but should be a platform to bring us together for development of our community.
“That is what informed us to have a football tournament being the biggest sport that brings people together. We tagged it, “HOA Unity Cup” to bring everybody together and do away with accusations that you are my supporter and you are not.
“We are using this to bring everybody to the same page to rally round our one symbol in the person of Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun, the APC Chairmanship candidate.
“It is a platform to bring together everybody with passion for development and unity,” Ogunmuyiwa said.
At the opening match were APC Councillorship candidates in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and other dignitaries.
