BAUCHI State governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, has described the National Sports Festival as a veritable tool for Nigeria's unity, even as he urged the state athletes to storm Lagos, the host of the 18th National Sports Festival, holding next month, and make the state proud by winning many medals.Speaking while receiving the Unity Torch for the sports fiesta at the Government House, Bauchi, at the weekend, Governor Yuguda explained that the sports festival was noted for bringing Nigerians together, irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliations."This Torch of Unity, which is a symbol of the National Sports Festival, shows that Nigerians can come together under one umbrella without any discrimination as a result of tribe or religion," said the governor, who jogged 100metres with the torch.He further explained that the festival Torch of Unity was a symbol of bringing different ethnicity group together in the country, saying that Nigeria was blessed with over 250 different tribes across several communities, which he said sports had been unifying over the years.Governor Yuguda noted that there was an urgent need for Nigerians to come together with a view to developing the country and moving it forward.'This torch of unity is also symbol of prosperity, patriotism as well as greatness of our country. Through sports, we can unite the country that is blessed with about 250 ethnicity groups. There is absolute need for Nigerians to come together and make the country more developed,' he said.The governor commended the state's athletes who participated at the just-concluded zonal eliminations competition for the Eko 2012 Games in Gombe for making Bauchi State proud and challenged them not to rest on their oars until they win many medals during the sports festival proper.In his address earlier, the Zonal coordinator of the National Sports Commission (NSC) in charge of North-East zone, Alhajii Talba Shua Umar, commended Governor Yuguda's keen interest in developing sports in the state, declaring that the governor was a pacesetter in the zone in terms of promotion and development of sports.
Click here to read full news..
