*Sports Ministry Says Receive No Formal Request
THE Rivers State Government has countered claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the Rivers State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Desmond Akawor, that it denied them access to the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt for the inauguration of the Rivers State Renewed Hope Ambassadors, saying the stadium was under reconstruction and cannot be used by any group at the moment.
In addition, the state Ministry of Sports stated that it did not receive any formal request or application from any group of person(s) for the use of the facility.
The duo had alleged on Friday, January 29, alleged that the state government delibrately denied the group access to and use of the stadium for the programme.
Wike had vowed to forcefully gain access to the facility if the state government denies him approval to use of the stadium for a Renewed Hope Family rally in future, insisting the organisers had applied to use the stadium for Friday’s event, but were denied approval by the state government.
Speaking at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Agenda coordinators in the three senatorial districts and 23 local government areas of the state, the minister warned that if the governor repeats such action, the organisers would break into the facility and use it.
He said: “We applied to the state government for the use of the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, they refused us. Let me say this clearly: Next time they do this, if you don’t approve it, we will break in by force.
“So, the state coordinator should write again to the state government and choose a day when we will inaugurate the ward-level coordinators. I want everybody to hear this clearly: Enough is enough.
“We are all from Rivers State, nobody can deny us the use of state facilities. If you refuse to grant approval, we will do the needful, and we will take it by force. Heaven will not fall. Even if heaven falls, everywhere will still be at peace.”
But in its reaction to the allegation, the state government, while describing it as false and misleading, explained that the stadium was currently undergoing reconstruction and unsafe for public use.
Addressing journalists on Friday evening after an inspection of the facility, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Honour Sirawoo, said: “The Yakubu Gowon Stadium is presently under reconstruction and cannot be used by any group at this time.”
He explained that the level of work ongoing at the facility makes it unsafe for public gatherings, urging political actors to place the interest of the state above partisan considerations.
Sirawoo insisted that Governor Siminalayi Fubara remained committed to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in next year’s general electioms.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Sports, who also serves as the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Christopher Green, said his office did not receive any formal application for the use of the stadium.
“At no time did the Ministry of Sports receive a formal request for the use of the Yakubu Gowon Stadium,” Green reiterated, describing the allegation as baseless, saying afterall, the venue eventually used for the inauguration, the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, is also a state-owned facility.
The Site Engineer handling the project, Michael Ebitenye, who led officials on the inspection tour, explained that the stadium was in a delicate condition, “any heavy human traffic could damage underground installations and pose serious safety risks.”
He said the contractor, Monimichelle, would not for now allow the use of facilities under renovation for any event.
