- FCT Minister Nyesom Wike threatened to forcefully access the Yakubu Gowon Stadium if the Rivers State Government again denied approval for a pro-Tinubu rally
- He accused the state government of unfairly blocking access to public facilities and insisted that residents could not be denied their use
- The remarks heightened tensions amid Wike’s ongoing political rift with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, despite the state citing ongoing renovations at the stadium
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a strong warning to the Rivers State Government over the alleged refusal to approve the use of the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt, for a Renewed Hope Family rally, vowing that organisers would forcefully gain access to the facility if such a denial is repeated.
Wike made the remarks on Friday while speaking at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, during the inauguration of coordinators of the Renewed Hope Agenda across the three senatorial districts and 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
According to the minister, organisers of the rally had formally applied to the Rivers State Government for permission to use the stadium for a planned event scheduled for Friday, but were denied approval. He described the action as unacceptable and warned that any future attempt to block the facility's use would be met with resistance.
“We applied to the state government for the use of the Yakubu Gowon Stadium. They refused us,” Wike said. “Let me say this clearly: next time they do this, if you don’t approve it, we will break in by force.”
The former Rivers State governor directed the state coordinator of the Renewed Hope Agenda to submit another application to the state government and select a date for the inauguration of ward-level coordinators. He insisted that residents of the state could not be denied access to public facilities.
“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,” he declared.
Wike further warned that refusal to approve would not stop the event from holding, insisting that the organisers were prepared to take decisive action.
“If you refuse to approve, 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,” he added.
The minister’s comments come amid heightened political tension in Rivers State, following a prolonged rift between Wike and the incumbent governor, Siminalayi Fubara. The disagreement, which centres on control of the state’s political structure, has continued to shape political activities and alignments within the oil-producing state.
The Renewed Hope Agenda is closely associated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and has been used by his supporters to mobilise grassroots backing ahead of future elections. The planned rally in Rivers State has therefore attracted significant political attention.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has denied allegations that it deliberately blocked a Wike-led pro-Tinubu rally, stating that the Yakubu Gowon Stadium is currently undergoing construction and renovation. State officials have maintained that the facility is not available for public events at this time.
Despite the clarification, Wike’s latest remarks signal a potential escalation in the political standoff, raising concerns over public order and the use of state infrastructure for partisan activities.
As of the time of filing this report, the Rivers State Government has yet to respond to the minister’s latest threat. Further developments are expected as both sides navigate the growing political tension surrounding the planned rally.