The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has openly challenged the Rivers State Government over its refusal to grant approval for the use of the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt for a political rally.
Wike accused the state government of deliberately blocking the organisers of a Renewed Hope Family rally scheduled for Friday, despite a formal request to use the stadium. He warned that any further denial would be met with decisive action, including forcing entry into the facility.
Speaking on Friday at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt, during the inauguration of Renewed Hope Agenda coordinators across Rivers State, Wike expressed frustration over what he described as unfair treatment.
According to him, the organisers had followed due process by applying to the state government but were turned down without justification.
“We applied to the state government for the use of the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, and they refused,” Wike said. “Let me be very clear, if they do this again and refuse approval, we will force our way in.”
He instructed the state coordinator to submit another application for the stadium ahead of the inauguration of ward-level coordinators, insisting that Rivers people should not be denied access to public facilities within their own state.
“Enough is enough,” the minister declared. “We are all Rivers people.
Nobody has the right to stop us from using state-owned facilities. If approval is denied again, we will do what is necessary and take it by force. Heaven will not fall and even if it does, peace will still reign.”
Wike’s remarks have further heightened political tension in Rivers State, especially amid ongoing power struggles and alignments ahead of future political activities.
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