The Chairman of the Delta State Athletics Association, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, has extended heartfelt congratulations to Gabriel Okon following his victory in the South-South Zonal election into the board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), held Monday in Benin City.
In a statement released Tuesday in Asaba, Ikpokpo described the contest as a “family affair” and gracefully conceded defeat, while emphasizing the need for unity and focused leadership in Nigerian athletics.
Read Also: “Local Players Stepping Up Big Time for Nigeria’s World Cup Build-Up”- Affirms Iloenyonsi:
“Okon surely has a name and deserves his place in the athletics world,” Ikpokpo stated. “I fully concede defeat to Gabriel Okon, who is a brother and friend. However, I enjoin him to strive for effective and target-driven representation of the zone on the board.”
Highlighting the critical role of athletics within the broader sports ecosystem, Ikpokpo called for a departure from divisive tendencies that have hampered progress in the sector.
He emphasized the need to open up the athletics space for wider participation and contributions from passionate individuals.
“Our fortunes in recent times indicate that there is a lot of work to do,” he noted. “This requires a high level of commitment and selflessness, not by pandering to cleavages that have held the sport down, but by building a more inclusive ecosystem.”
With the main AFN elections scheduled for June 12, Ikpokpo expressed hope that a renewed sense of purpose and national interest would guide decisions going forward.
“To all our friends and stakeholders who rooted for us, I say, let’s keep faith,” he concluded.
Okon’s emergence as South-South representative marks a pivotal moment in the countdown to the national AFN board election, as stakeholders prepare for what could be a defining leadership transition in Nigerian athletics.
