Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki
By Our Reporter
Okpekpe Road Race Annual Event which started in 2013 with this year’s edition scheduled to hold on May 28, 2022 maybe heading towards the rocks should the Edo State Government failed to act on the petition by a lawyer and human rights activist, Bar. Apeiye Becon.
In the petition to the Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki with copies to the Chairman Etsako Local government and the Clan Head of Uzairue “….. Is premised on the fact that out of the 10 kilometres cover by the annual event, 5 kilometres falls under Apana land.”
According to the Human Rights Activist, “The only way that Okpekpe will not lay claim to Apana land, by extension Etsako West Local Government land in the nearest future is for the Edo State Government to act swiftly.
The petition titled, “A Wake-Up Call To Apana, Uzairue and Etsako West Local Government”, made available to journalists, Bar. Becon warned on the likely backlash, should the appropriate authorities failed by given the petition prompt consideration it deserves.
Okpekpe Road Race is an annual event in Edo State, Nigeria. It is a 10 kilometres road race over hills and tarred roads, starting from Apana Road and Ending in Okpekpe.
It should be noted that Apana is in Etsako West Local government with its headquarters in Auchi. While Okpekpe falls under Etsako East local government with its headquarters in Agenebode. Which shows that over 9 years of the event, all revenues accrued from the programme, would have been shared between the organisers, Etsako East Local Government and the Edo State Government, leaving Etsako West to bear the brunt.
A reliable source told our correspondent that Governor Godwin Obaseki on receiving the petition, immediately forwarded it to his deputy Hon. Philip Shuabu to act on it.
Our several calls and text messages to Hon. Philip Shuabu were not returned before press time.
