Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello has said all Nigerians ought to celebrate the victories of athletes Ese Brume and Blessing Oborududu who won bronze and silver medals respectively, at the ongoing 2020 Olympic holding in Tokyo, Japan.

Mr Bello said this while congratulating the duo via a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Muhammed Onogwu, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The governor hailed the athletes for showing their “can do” Nigerian spirit on the world stage.

Mr Bello hailed Oborududu for making history by winning the first ever medal in wrestling for Nigeria at the Olympics and the first silver medal at the ongoing Tokyo 2020.

He also hailed Brume over the bronze medal in the long jump event; a feat which was last achieved 25 years ago by Chioma Ajunwa, who got Nigeria’s first Olympic Gold.

The governor noted that the duo had made the nation proud on the international stage by achieving such great feat and bringing glory to its name by enlisting the country among the medal winning nation at the ongoing events

He alluded that sport had continued to remain a veritable tool to unite us as a nation.

He said that irrespective of where the victorious athletes were from, or their religion, such dichotomy would not hinder all Nigerians from celebrating their victory.

Mr Bello also thanked other athletes who were at the Olympics to represent the nation in one event or the other, noting that they remained heroes and heroines who deserved to be celebrated.

He added that as youths, they had shown faith in their country, particularly in its unity, peace and progress, hence becoming worthy ambassadors, irrespective of the challenges they might face in the process of their patriotism.

The governor, however, used the opportunity to urge other athletes, who were still participating in one event or the other, to keep the flag flying.

The Kogi governor prayed that their labour and those of other sports representatives would not be in vain.