Dafinone Leads Sapele Residents in Marathon, Endurance Walk

The Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone, has urged the Sapele Local Government Council to sustain its annual marathon and endurance walk, stressing the importance of regular physical exercise to healthy living and community development.

Dafinone made the call during the second edition of the Sapele Marathon and Endurance Walk, organised under the themes, “A Walk for Sheriff” and “A Walk for Bright Abeke.”

The senator, who took part in the exercise and led participants during the endurance walk, said the initiative should not be limited to an annual event but should encourage residents to make physical exercise part of their daily lifestyle.

Speaking at the event, Dafinone congratulated the Sapele Local Government Chairman, Hon. Bright Abeke, for sustaining the initiative, describing the exercise as symbolic of the importance of good health.

“I want to congratulate the council chairman for this second edition of Walk for Life. It is symbolic for good health,” he said.

Dafinone further urged residents to embrace regular exercise, noting that maintaining good health requires consistent physical activity rather than participation in an exercise programme only once a year.

“This second edition, I pray it should continue on an annual basis, and more people will be encouraged to embrace the life of exercise,” the senator added.

The event attracted more than 70 runners from different parts of the country, while residents, political leaders and other dignitaries participated in the endurance walk.

The marathon commenced from Eko-Amukpe, while the Walk for Life began at the Sapele Stadium. Participants subsequently moved through different parts of the town before both activities ended at the Sapele Local Government Secretariat.

Hon. Bright Abeke, who led the council, also participated in the exercise alongside other dignitaries and residents.

The Clerk of the Delta State House of Assembly, Barr. Kingsley Esiso, a former chairman of the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, commended the participation of residents and described physical exercise as essential to maintaining good health.

“You see, every normal human being must take care of its health,” Esiso said, while acknowledging the role of the Sapele council chairman in promoting healthy living through the initiative.

Esiso, however, noted that the gathering also provided an opportunity for political mobilisation, saying participants used the occasion to sensitise residents on supporting the All Progressives Congress.

“We are politicians. What we did today is to sensitise people on the need to vote the party, and the need to support APC,” he stated.

Also speaking, Chief Benson Okorodudu said the exercise brought together people from different backgrounds, including Christians and non-Christians, indigenes and non-indigenes.

According to him, the health benefits of the exercise went beyond any financial incentives participants might receive, as the walk provided an opportunity for residents to engage in physical activity and burn calories.

“What they have done now is more than giving people money,” Okorodudu said.

He also commended the peaceful conduct of the event, saying the absence of crisis during a gathering of such magnitude demonstrated that Sapele could successfully host large public activities.

“There was no sign of crisis. It was to show that there is peace in Sapele and investors can come to Sapele,” he added.

The second edition of the marathon and endurance walk therefore combined physical fitness, community interaction and political mobilisation, with participants traversing major parts of Sapele before converging at the local government secretariat