The 7th edition of Okpekpe International Road Race slated for May 25th 2019 may not hold, following plans by the people of Apana Community in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo state to stop the Race.
The community described as “erroneous tagging” of the event as Okpekpe race.
This was contained in a petition to the State Government and signed by Notary Public, Apeiye Becon Clement ESQ on behalf of the community,
The petitioners urged the state government to embed in the Sporting event the areas rich cultural heritage to further sell Edo to the world.
According to the petition, the Take-off point of the event form major part of their land hence the need to name it, ‘Apana/Okpekpe Road Race’ and not ‘Okpekpe Road Race’, as it is currently being used.
The Okpekpe Road Race is an annual event that attracts world-class athletes from around the world for a 10-kilometre distance.
It is an IAAF Silver Labeled Road Race run over hills and tarred roads in the Northern part of the state, with the sum of N45m as total prize for this year’s event.
A community leader, Elder Thomas Ipogah said after series of reminder on the petition to concerned authorities, with no response, “the community may resort to disrupt the Race take-off.”
