The Rivers State government has dismissed allegations that it obstructed the Renewed Hope Family from accessing the Yakubu Gowon Stadium for a planned rally.
BACKGROUND
On Friday, Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), inaugurated coordinators of the Renewed Hope Family for the three senatorial districts and local government areas in Rivers State at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt.
The Renewed Hope Family is a political group mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
Speaking at the event, Wike claimed that organisers of the rally had applied to the state government for permission to use the Yakubu Gowon Stadium but were denied approval. He further warned that he would break the lock and force entry into the stadium if access was not granted for a subsequent event.
‘STADIUM UNDER RECONSTRUCTION’
Countering Wike’s claims, Christopher Green, the Rivers State Coordinating Commissioner for Sports and Attorney-General, said no formal application to use the stadium was received by his office or any relevant government agency.
Green, who was on an inspection tour of the facility alongside Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, stated that the stadium is currently undergoing reconstruction and is not fit for use.
“I have not received any application from anybody to use this facility. And everyone in Rivers state is aware that the Yakubu Gowon Stadium is under reconstruction,” he said.
He explained that Monimichelle is handling the reconstruction project, which is aimed at upgrading the stadium to meet FIFA and World Athletics standards.
“This is a work zone. The main bowl has over 40,000 pipes underneath, making it impossible and unsafe for any activity. You cannot step on it, let alone host an event here,” he said.
“If anyone claims that an application was received and rejected, let them provide proof. I have not seen any such letter.”
Green added that other government-owned facilities, such as the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium and the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, remain available for public use, stressing that the state government does not deny access to facilities without valid reasons.
He noted that if the government intended to restrict the group, it would not have allowed the use of the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic for the rally.
“We are not the kind of people who will stop anyone from using government facilities,” he said.
Earlier this month, Wike claimed that all political parties in Rivers State had collapsed into a coalition in support of Tinubu’s second-term bid.
The minister has also been openly campaigning against the re-election of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accusing him of breaching an agreement they allegedly reached before President Tinubu lifted the emergency rule in the state.
Fubara, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December, is also actively campaigning for Tinubu’s re-election.