ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said his administration is going to declare a public holiday in the state in honour of Bayelsa Queens and Bayelsa United following their emergence as Champions of the Men and Women’s competitions of the 2021 AITEO Cup.
Diri made this known when he visited players and officials of Bayelsa Queens and Bayelsa United in the teams’ camp in Benin, Edo State, shortly after their victories in the tournament.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, praised the heroic achievements of the teams, describing them as heroes and heroines that Bayelsans are proud of.
Diri said the success of Bayelsa Queens and Bayelsa United were as a result of the handiwork of God and the dedication and commitment of the players and officials of the teams as well as the prayers and support of the people of the state.
He said: “We have said that because of what you have done we are going to declare a public holiday in Bayelsa State to receive and welcome you back home. I told you that the spirit of Bayelsa is never intimidated, never conquered.
“I told you that you will come to Benin with the spirit of the Crocodile to conquer the land and the waters. I told you that you will come with the spirit of the power of the Leopard. You have come, conquered and you have made us very proud.
“His Excellency said I should wish you all the best and send his congratulations to you. He has spoken to us all this night. So we are here as a mark of further support to you. So relax and enjoy yourselves this night after your great achievements.
‘We want to give thanks and glory to God Almighty for this double victory. God has again performed His miracle. When we say we are the Miracle Governor and Deputy Governor People thought we were joking.
“We said we were coming to Benin to win the two Cups and that is what we have done. The Governor told me to go there, conquer and return and we have come, we have conquered and we are returning.”
Also, the senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Senator Moses Cleopas, noted that the victory of the teams was as a result of the mercies of God, hailing the team for preparing adequately for the triumph.
According to Senator Cleopas, both teams have written their names in gold and the people of Bayelsa State and Nigeria will not forget them.
The member representing Kolokuma-Opokuma Constituency One in the State House of Assembly, Tonye Isenah, praised the team for their hardwork, describing their victory as success meeting preparation with a crowning by God.
He explained that the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ngobere, was pleased and excited with the achievement.
Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Sports and member representing Ekeremor Constituency One, Tare Porri, congratulated the teams for the double victory which he described as unprecedented in the history of the state, asserting that it was a justification of the Appropriation made to the clubs by the Assembly.
He pledged that all that is needed to support the teams to succeed next season would be duly appropriated.