In Abuja: Taraba wins APC national unity cup

Taraba state emerged winner after beating Gombe in a penalty shootout.

Taraba state on Thursday, November 30, 2017, emerged champions after beating their Gombe counterpart at the National Unity Cup organized by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Taraba won the competition on a 5-3 penalty shootout that kept the spectators including the Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Musa Bello, his Women Affairs counterpart, Aisha Alhassan (Mama Taraba) and the members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) on the edge of their seats.

The week-long football competition kicked off at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja on Wednesday, November 22, 2017.

Addressing journalists at the end of the competition, APC National Youth Leader, Ibrahim Dasuki Jalo said the event was organized to promote unity among the various tribes in the country.

Jalo who emphasized on unifying power of football maintained that the tournament would become an annual event.

“This is an APC tournament and event organized by the youth wing of the party,” Jalo said.

“We came up with this idea as part of efforts to enhance unity among our young men. Also, we want to leave a legacy that would be carried on after our exit thereby contributing to national development,” he added.

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Reacted to questions of a PDP state playing in the final and winning the tournament, Jalo said: “Actually, it was their own determination. That is difference between sports and politics. The boys are very determined with the feeling to do their best, to showcase themselves even among states with APC leadership.

“We are thinking that it will also go a long way to telling people that APC is coming to stay in those states and also they are determined to be part and parcel of whatever is happening particularly at the national level,” he said.

He advised youth on the need to shun hate speeches and vices that would threaten the unity of the country.

“I would like to use this medium to call on all Nigerian youths to embrace peace and unity and whatever will promote them in any sense whether economic, political, social and so on. They should remain focused on activities that can secure and guarantee their future,” he added.