Why Rivers Govt barrs Wike from using Port-Harcourt stadium

• More on Wike and Fubara latest news

Rivers State government has given reasons why Nyesom Wike is not allowed into Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Inauguration of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, event linked to Wike, is supposed to take place in the stadium. But he didn’t follow procedures to apply to use he venue for the event.

According to the State Commissioner for Sports, Christopher Green who doubles as the Attorney-General, his ministry didn’t receive any official request from the pro-Tinubu group to use the stadium. Wike and his cohorts are trying to pitch Governor Simi Fubara against President Bola Tinubu, Green said.

• Why Rivers Govt barrs Wike from using Port-Harcourt stadium

Had Wike followed due process, he would have known earlier that the stadium is under serious reconstruction, according to the state government.

The FCT minister and leaders of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors have separately accused Fubara’s administration of deliberately denying them access to the stadium.

This led the state government to lead media tour and inspected the reconstruction. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr. Honour Sirawoo, told the press after the tour that Wike’s accusation “lacks basis” and are “misleading”.

Since Fubara was reinstated after six-month suspension in the controversial presidential emergency rule declaration, Wike has found himself in a tightrope. As part of the package to return him to power, Fubara had joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

It seems President Tinubu would trust the oil-rich state governor more than Wike as he seeks to return to presidency in 2027. After all, Fubara needs a second-term like the president himself. Is Wike’s relevance finally coming to some ignoble end?

Why Rivers Govt barrs Wike from using Port-Harcourt stadium

Rivers State government has given reasons why Nyesom Wike is not allowed into Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Inauguration of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, event linked to Wike, is supposed to take place in the stadium. But he didn’t follow procedures to apply to use he venue for the event, State officials said.

The Commissioner for Sports, Christopher Green, who doubles as the Attorney-General of the state, told the press that his ministry didn’t receive any official request from the pro-Tinubu group to use the stadium. Wike and his followers are trying to pitch Governor Simi Fubara against President Bola Tinubu, according to Green.

• Why FCT workers continue strike despite Wike’s threats

Had Wike followed due process, he would have known earlier that the stadium is under serious reconstruction, Green said.

The FCT minister and leaders of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors have separately accused Fubara’ administration of deliberately denying them access to the stadium.

This led the state government to lead media tour to inspect the reconstruction. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr. Honour Sirawoo, told the press after the tour that Wike’s accusation “lacks basis” and are “misleading”.

Since Fubara was reinstated after six-month suspension in the controversial presidential emergency rule declaration, Wike has found himself in a tightrope. As part of the package to return him to power, Fubara had joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

It seems President Tinubu would trust the oil-rich state governor more than Wike as he seeks to return to presidency in 2027. After all, Fubara needs a second-term like the president himself. Is Wike’s relevance finally coming to some ignoble end?

Why FCT workers continue strike despite Wike’s threats

Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has defied Nyesom Wike’s threats and continued their strike. The FCT minister has been began striking since January 19 over welfare concerns.

There was huge turnout of workers at the offices yesterday. But renewed call has emboldened the workers. According Nigeria News Agency, FCTA secretariats, departments and agencies were scanty this morning.

The workers, under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), are resisting Federal Government’s neglect of their welfare. Wike has tried to stop them through court orders, but is seen to have failed.

JUAC’s Secretary, Abdullahi Saleh, in a circular on Wednesday, told the workers to “stay at home and pray for the success of the strike”.

• UNN lecturer assaults a Smart School teacher at Gov. Peter Mbah’s Owo town

Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, had, in a joint communiqué on January 28, told FCT workers to stand firm and “defend their rights with courage and dignity”.

Femi Falana, SAN, famous human rights lawyer is the lead counsel of the oppressed workers.

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