December 21, (THEWILL) – The Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen. Douye Diri, has received the Bayelsa State Para contingents to the just concluded National Para Games in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
Governor Diri, during the State Prosperity Weekly Exercise on Thursday, heartwarmingly received the Para Athletes in a special recognition, after Bayelsa State finished first position with 30 gold, 24 silver and 20 bronze.
In his remarks, Governor Douye Diri congratulated them for making the State and the Ijaw Nation proud with their spectacular performance.
Governor Diri described the achievements as fulfilling, stressing that despite their current physical conditions they were able to prove that there’s indeed ability in disability.
“Winning the Para Games back to back and so on behalf of your State I say congratulations, you have made your State proud and you have brought a very good image to Bayelsa.
“All over Nigeria they know in Para Games you can’t challenge Bayelsa State, so we want to thank you and urge you to keep it up because you have done it twice and next year would be better”, Diri said.
The Governor, who described the Para Athletes as special athletes, stated that the State Government will officially host them in the Government House just like every other sportsman who has made the state proud.
“And as we do to all the sporting activities yours won’t be different, we’re going to reward you just like we do to other athletes on an appropriate date.
“A State Government that doesn’t take care of their own underprivileged is a bad Government, and if with all the challenges that you have, you can still make us proud then we can’t treat you as second hand because you are first hand”, he stressed.
Meanwhile, the rousing medal presentation was attended by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Daniel Igali, chairman, House Committee on Youth and Sports, Tare Porri, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mrs Grace Alagoa and the Director of Sports Bayelsa State Sports Council, Sir Braveman Wodi, among other government officials and political appointees.
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