Port Harcourt – Former Rivers State Governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has threatened to forcibly access the Yakubu Gowon Stadium after alleging that the state government denied his political group, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, permission to hold a rally.
Speaking at the inauguration of coordinators across Rivers State’s 23 local government areas, Wike said:
“Next time, if they don’t approve it, we will break in by force. Nobody can deny us the facilities of the state.”
He urged supporters to proceed ward by ward with their political activities, warning against intimidation and reaffirming the campaign for the Renewed Hope Agenda.
But the Rivers State Government has dismissed the claims, calling them false, politically motivated, and potentially divisive. Barrister Chris Green, Coordinating Commissioner for Sports, clarified that the stadium is under extensive reconstruction and is unsafe for public events. Technical experts say the facility is only 55% complete, with sensitive drainage and hydrological systems that could be damaged by crowds.
Permanent Secretary Dr Honour Sirawoo added that alternative venues, including Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium and Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, are available for public and political events. The government emphasised that the restrictions are about safety, not politics.
The incident underscores a longstanding political feud between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, highlighting the tension between political ambition and public safety in Rivers State as elections approach.
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