By Taiwo Ibrahim
Widely-traveled and experienced Sport Administrator, Baye Osagie has congratulated the newly-elected Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa after they were sworn in last week in Benin City, Sportivation Media reports.
Monday Okpebholo polled 291,667 to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, who recorded 247,274 votes.
Osagie, who is a passionate sports administrator has felicitated with Okpebholo, and Idahosa for winning the election, while also urging them to serve the people of Edo State with all their ability.
Osagie told Sportivation Media: “I want to congratulate Monday Okpebholo, and Dennis Idahosa for winning the election, I trust them to be able to repay the trust of the Edo people by giving them quality governance, which will lead to the development of the state.
He also urged the new administration to do better than the previous administration in sports.
Osagie continued: “I will like Okpebholo, and Idahosa to reform Edo State sports generally and not focus on football alone unlike the previous administration, we all saw how the previous administration only paid attention to football while neglecting other sports which affected their development. So, they should make their impact felt in sports, I understand that football is the king of sports, but they need to also develop other sports, Edo State is not only for Bendel Insurance, and Edo Queens.
“Edo State is blessed with talented players in all the sports, and there is a need for the state to harness the enormous potential available by appointing the right people to run sports in the state, which will help to boost the development of sports in the state.
“I want to believe they have already mapped out plans for sports already because they can’t afford to lag behind, they need to be aiming to do better than the previous administration because failure to do that will cause issues among the sports-loving people of Edo State.
Osagie concluded: “I am wishing them all the best in their quest to make Edo State better in all ramifications.”
Osagie is the youngest member of the Nigeria Olympic Committee on Education and Culture, he was also part of Nigeria delegation to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England in 2022.
Baye Osagie currently works with English Championship side, Stoke City Football Club.