Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has challenged the Rivers State Government to withhold approval for the use of the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt for a Renewed Hope Family rally, threatening to physically acquire entrance to the stadium if this occurs.
Wike stated that the organisers asked to use the stadium for Friday’s event but were denied permission by the state administration.
He threatened that if the governor took such action again, the organizers would break into the facility and utilize it.
The minister delivered the warning on Friday while addressing the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt at the inauguration of Renewed Hope Agenda coordinators in Rivers State’s three senatorial districts and 23 local governments.
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.”
