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.
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?
