Rivers Govt Reacts To Viral Reports Of Wike Being Shut Out Of State Stadium

The government explained that the stadium is presently undergoing extensive renovation work and is not safe for public gatherings.

In a statement released on Friday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Honour Sirawoo, the state described Wike’s claim as untrue and misleading.

“The stadium is currently under reconstruction and cannot be used because it is unsafe,” the statement read.

Earlier, the rally—eventually hosted at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Rumuola—saw Wike accuse the state government of deliberately obstructing the event by refusing them access to the stadium.

“We applied to the state government for the General Yakubu Gowon Stadium, and they refused,” Wike said, adding a warning: “Next time, if you don’t approve it, we will break it by force.”

No Formal Application Submitted — Green

Responding to the accusation, the Commissioner for Sports and Attorney-General of Rivers State, Professor Christopher Green, said his office never received any official request for the use of the stadium.

He also pointed out that the alternative venue used by the pro-Tinubu group, the Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, is likewise owned by the state government.

Meanwhile, the site engineer overseeing the reconstruction, Michael Ebitenye, explained that the stadium pitch contains fragile underground piping that could easily be damaged by large crowds.

He further noted that the VIP stands and other seating sections pose safety risks, making the facility unsuitable for any event at this time.

Professor Green added that the contractor handling the project, Monimichelle, has advised that no activities should take place at the stadium until all renovation work is fully completed, regardless of political interests.