The Rivers state government has dismissed allegations that it prevented the Renewed Hope Family from accessing the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt for a political rally.
The clarification follows comments by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who on Friday inaugurated coordinators of the Renewed Hope Family for Rivers’ three senatorial districts and local government areas.
The inauguration ceremony took place at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt. The Renewed Hope Family is a political group mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
During the event, Wike alleged that the organisers had sought approval from the state government to use the Yakubu Gowon Stadium but were denied access. He further threatened to break the lock on the facility should approval not be granted for a future rally.
Responding to the claim, Christopher Green, Rivers coordinating commissioner for sports and attorney-general, said no formal request was received by his office or any relevant agency of the state government.
Green made the remarks while inspecting the stadium alongside Honour Sirawoo, permanent secretary in the ministry of information and communications. He said the facility is currently undergoing reconstruction and is not fit for public use.
“I have not received any application from anybody to use this facility. And everyone in Rivers state is aware that the Yakubu Gowon Stadium is under reconstruction,” he said.
According to the commissioner, the reconstruction project is being handled by Monimichelle, with the aim of upgrading the stadium to meet FIFA and World Athletics standards.
“This is a work zone. The main bowl has over 40,000 pipes underneath, making it impossible and unsafe for any activity. You cannot step on it, let alone host an event here,” he said.
“If anyone claims that an application was received and rejected, let them provide proof. I have not seen any such letter.”
Green added that other government-owned venues, including the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium and the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, remain available for public activities. He said the state government does not arbitrarily restrict access to its facilities.
He noted that the Renewed Hope Family was allowed to use the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic for its recent event, arguing that this contradicted claims of deliberate obstruction.
“We are not the kind of people who will stop anyone from using government facilities,” he said.
Earlier this month, Wike stated that all political parties in Rivers had collapsed into a coalition supporting Tinubu’s bid for a second term.
The FCT minister has also been campaigning against the re-election of Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, accusing him of violating an agreement reached before President Tinubu lifted the emergency rule imposed on the state.
Fubara, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December, is also campaigning for Tinubu’s re-election.
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