The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has threatened to forcibly access the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Rivers State, claiming the Rivers State Government blocked the Renewed Hope Ambassadors from using the venue for a rally.
Wike, former governor of Rivers State, made the statement on Friday during the inauguration of the group’s coordinators across the state’s 23 local government areas.
Wike said, “we applied to the Rivers State Government for the Yakubu Gowon Stadium. They refused us.
”But let me say, next time we will do this, if you don’t approve it, we will break it by force. Nobody can deny us the facilities of the state.”
He encouraged members to remain bold, promising logistical support, including vehicles, to ensure ward-level inaugurations of the group proceed as planned.
However, the Rivers State Government denied the allegation.
Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, said the claim was false and misleading.
He explained that the Yakubu Gowon Stadium is currently undergoing and is unsafe for public use, making it unavailable to any group at the moment.
The situation highlights ongoing political tensions in the state, with differing claims over access to public facilities and the organization of political events.
