Rivers Government to Wike: Tinubu Group wasn’t Stopped from Using Stadium — Facility Under Reconstruction

The Rivers government has denied claims that it stood in the way of the Renewed Hope Family accessing the Yakubu Gowon Stadium for a rally.

BACKGROUND

On Friday, Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), inaugurated the Renewed Hope coordinators for three senatorial districts and LGAs in Rivers, at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The Renewed Hope Family is a group mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Speaking at the event, Wike said the organisers had applied to the state government for permission to use the stadium for the occasion but were denied approval.

The FCT minister vowed to break the stadium lock and gain access if the government does not grant them access for the subsequent event.

‘STADIUM UNDER RECONSTRUCTION’

Rejecting Wike’s claim, Christopher Green, Rivers coordinating commissioner for sports and attorney-general, said neither his office nor any relevant government agency received a formal application to use the stadium.

Green, who was touring the stadium with Honour Sirawoo, permanent secretary, ministry of information and communications, explained that the facility is under construction and remains unusable.

“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.

The commissioner said Monimichelle is handling the reconstruction of the stadium to upgrade it to 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 said alternative government-owned facilities, including the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium and the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, remain open for public use, adding that the state government does not restrict access to facilities without justification.

He said if the government did not want the group to use its facilities, it could have prevented them from using 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.

Early this month, Wike said all political parties in Rivers have collapsed into a coalition backing Tinubu for a second term.

The minister has been campaigning against the re-election of Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers, after accusing him of reneging on an agreement they had signed before Tinubu lifted the emergency rule in Rivers.

Fubara, who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December, is also campaigning for Tinubu’s re-election.