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 planned political rally, warning that organisers would push ahead with the event regardless of the state’s decision.
Wike disclosed that organisers of the Renewed Hope Family rally had formally applied to use the stadium for a programme scheduled for Friday but were turned down by the state authorities.
He described the decision as unacceptable and cautioned that a repeat would be met with decisive action.
Speaking on Friday at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of Renewed Hope Agenda coordinators across Rivers State, the minister said residents of the state could not be barred from accessing public facilities.
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According to him, another application would be submitted to the state government, after which a date would be fixed for the inauguration of ward-level coordinators.
He stressed that continued refusal by the state would not stop the planned activities.
“We are all from Rivers State, and no one has the right to deny us the use of facilities that belong to the people,” Wike said. He added that the organisers were prepared to proceed with the rally even in the face of opposition, insisting that “enough is enough.”
The remarks are the latest in the growing political tension between Wike and the Rivers State Government, as preparations intensify for mobilisation activities linked to the Renewed Hope Agenda across the state.