Wike Dares Rivers Govt Over Stadium Approval, Threatens Forceful Access for Rally
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, Port Harcourt, for a Renewed Hope Family rally, warning that future denials could lead to forceful access to the facility.
Wike disclosed that organisers of the rally had applied to the state government for permission to use the stadium for a planned event on Friday but were turned down. He insisted that such a decision was unacceptable and cautioned that a repeat would be resisted.
The minister issued the warning on Friday while speaking at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of Renewed Hope Agenda coordinators across the three senatorial districts and 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
“We applied to the state government for the use of the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, and they refused us,” Wike said. “Let me make this very clear: if next time they refuse again, we will break in and use it by force.”
He directed the state coordinator of the Renewed Hope Agenda to submit another application to the Rivers State Government, this time for the inauguration of ward-level coordinators, stressing that residents of the state could not be denied access to public facilities.
“We are all Rivers people. Nobody can stop us from using state facilities. If approval is denied, we will do the needful and take it by force. Heaven will not fall, and even if it does, peace will still reign,” he added.
The remarks come amid heightened political tension in Rivers State, as rival camps continue to trade accusations over access to state resources and political space.
