From Aidoghie Paulinus, who was in Yenagoa
For Azibaola Robert, the Founder of Azibaola’s Expedition Into Deep Forest; Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Kakatar Group of Companies and Founder, Zeetin Engineering, whatever it takes to preserve the nation’s heritage, whether in the field of games or wildlife conservation, is worth the while in so far it is for the preservation of culture.
•Azibaola Robert (m), presenting the overall winner price of $1000 to Otuasega team. On his right is the Chairman of the Occasion, Chief Robert Ayalla Enogha
From Thursday, December 28, 2023 till Sunday, December 31, 2023, Robert gathered the creme de la creme in Bayelsa State and beyond to Kolo 2, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, to bid farewell to his mother-in-law, the late Mama Ego Emesua, who passed away at the ripe age of 81.
Prominent amongst the dignitaries were former President Goodluck Jonathan and wife, Dame Patience Jonathan; Governor of Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri; the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku; His Royal Highness, King Amalate Johnnie Turner, the Obanibe 111 of Oloibiri Kingdom, Bayelsa State, among others.
Robert who has become a cultural ambassador, garnished the funeral rites with numerous cultural events. Amongst them were wrestling competition, cultural dance by the Egbelegbele Dance Group of Amasoma, story telling, drama presentation and tug-of-war.
The tug-of-war competition had in attendance, members of the Bayelsa State Council of Sports and international practice in the sporting world was adhered to. The prizes ranged from $1000 for the winner, while the first and second runners-up went home with the sum of $500 and $200 respectively.
•Some of the teams participating in the game of tug-of-war
Twenty teams drawn from various communities in Ogbia Local Government Area were invited to take part in the competition out of which 16 participated. The invited teams were Oloibiri, Emakalakala, Opume, Akipila, Otabi, Otakeme, Otuabagi, Otuegeli, Amorokeni, Kolo 1, Kolo 2, Kolo 3, Emeyal 1, Emeyal 11; Elebele, Imiringi, Otuasega, Ebelebiri, Otuegue 11 and Oruma.
The tug-of-war is a contest in which two teams pull at opposite ends of a rope until one drags the other over a central line.
The first round of the game saw Otuabagi and Kolo 3 as the first teams to participate in the game. After two rounds of struggle, Kolo 3 came out twice victorious.
The second teams that participated were Oruma and Otuegue 11. At the end of their participation, Oruma scored two, while Otuegue 11 was eliminated.
Kolo 2 and Opume also took turns to participate. But at the end, Opume defeated Kolo 2 twice. Emeyal 11 and Amorokeni also took turns to participate. But Amorokeni emerged victorious.
Otuasega and Akipila also wrestled it out and Otuasega eliminated Akipila. Otabi and Ebelebiri were the sixth team to go into the rug spread on the field. Otabi came out victorious.
Elebele and Otakeme also came under the rope. At the end, Elebele proceeded to the next round. This was followed by Kolo 1 and Imiringi. Imiringi came out victorious.
Kolo 3 and Oruma kick-started the quarter finals. Kolo 3 emerged winner. The last quarter finals was between Elebele and Imiringi. Imiringi won.
In the first semi final, Opume and Kolo 3 struggled it out. At the end, Kolo 3 scored 2, while Opume scored 1.
In the second semi final, Imiringi and Otuasega came into the rug. Otuasega won.
Opume and Amorokeni followed suit in the semi finals. Opume won. Otuasega and Otabi also took turns in the semi finals. Otuasega won.
Opume and Imiringi struggled for the third position and Imiringi won.
But at the end, Otuasega and Kolo 3 participated in the finals. Otuasega came out as the overall winner, while Kolo 3 came second.
Speaking with Saturday Sun, Robert said he inculcated the game into the funeral rites in memory of his mother-in-law.
“But however, it is something that I have been planning for a while. You know I live in Abuja. Coming down here is typically a very difficult task to do sometimes because of my busy schedule. So, when I came to bury my mother-in-law, I decided that okay, let us just do this at once so that at least, we start the first edition and then in the subsequent editions, we will be able to plan them well based on the lessons learnt,” Robert said.
Robert also said from research, he realised that the game was something that was worth doing and was able to learn the rules through research.
Promising to make it an annual event, Robert also assured that it was going to be a state event, a South-South event, national event and eventually, an international event whereby countries such as Canada will participate and pull against Nigeria.
“So, I am going to draw international attention to the game,” Robert explained.
Robert further said through the game of tug-of-war, his intention is to achieve peace building, motivation of youths, environmental justice issues and climate change.
“With this kind of game, you will be able to talk people into effective climate change actions,” Robert stated.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Occasion, Chief Robert Ayalla Enogha, a native of Ogbia Kingdom, said he was overwhelmed by the action of the sponsor and his creativity because the people of Bayelsa were only used to wrestling and football.
The Chairman, Ayalla Hotels said: “Yes, it has paid us off, but this is another brand of creativity that by the time we build it up, it will take us to an unimaginable height.”