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Dayo Emmanuel
Serving Overseer of the First Love Assembly, Pastor Simeon Afolabi has congratulated Nigeria’s contingent to the just concluded Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, for doing the nation proud at the sporting fiesta.
Speaking during his Sunday sermon at the Jevinik Place, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, Afolabi could not hide his excitement over the impressive performance of the Nigerian contingent that finished ninth on the medals table at the games.
“Some people may be wondering why a pastor is excited about this feat. We came ninth on the medals table at the games and I thank God for that,” he said, adding that, “Sports is the only area that we don’t say that is an Igbo man, this one is Hausa or Yoruba man. Sports is the only thing that unites this country.”
The elated cleric continued that “When the Super Eagles are playing, no one thinks of tribe, no one says this is an Ibibio man. Do you use quota system in selecting who plays for Nigeria?” he asked, praying that God helps Nigeria translate same spirit into all other aspects of national life.
Afolabi, however, prayed for Nigerian leaders for the political will needed to translate the same spirit in sports to other areas of national life where people would assume positions of responsibilities by merit as against the current quota system being used.
“I am praying that God will help us to translate that spirit into every other aspect of our national life where things would be done on merit instead of the quota system we are used to,” he said.
The Commonwealth Games are an international multi-sport event involving athletes from Commonwealth nations.
The event was first held in 1930 and has been held every four years since then with the exception of the 1942 and 1946 editions cancelled due to the World War II.
The just concluded edition held in Gold Coast and Queensland, Australia began on the 4th of April and closed on the 15th.
The next edition of the games holds in Birmingham, England from 27th July to 7th August 2022.
