Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning to the Rivers State Government, threatening to forcefully gain access to the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt, if his political group is again denied use of the facility for future rallies.
Wike, a former Governor of Rivers State, made the remarks on Friday during the inauguration of senatorial and local government coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Port Harcourt.
The event, initially planned for the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, was eventually relocated to the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, in Rumuola.
The rally was organised in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the gathering, Wike accused the state government of deliberately frustrating political mobilisation efforts in the state, warning that further denial would be met with force.
“We applied to the Rivers State Government to use the Yakubu Gowon Stadium and they refused,” Wike said. “Next time, if we apply and they refuse again, we will break it and nothing will happen. Heaven will not fall.”
He argued that political activities were lawful and insisted that denial of public facilities amounted to suppression of democratic rights.
Wike also recalled that during his tenure as governor, opposition parties were granted access to public facilities only after meeting laid-down conditions, suggesting that the current administration was acting with political bias.
Declaring that political activities had formally commenced ahead of future elections, Wike said Rivers State would continue to lead political mobilisation in support of President Tinubu.
“I told you that by January, politics will start. This is January, and we have started. If you don’t give us the venue, we will break it,” he reiterated.
The FCT Minister further questioned the Rivers State Government’s commitment to President Tinubu’s re-election bid, warning that political rewards are tied to loyalty and commitment, not rhetoric.
“You cannot have a governor in the state while we are openly declaring support for President Tinubu and you are not aligning. How then do you expect a reward?” he asked.
According to him, political rewards do not depend on financial contributions but on demonstrated commitment. “You don’t need N600 billion. All you need is commitment,” he said.
Wike also thanked President Tinubu for supporting the Ijaw political coalition and backing candidates for the February 21 by-elections in Khana Constituency II and Ahoada West Constituency II, urging supporters to mobilise voters.
In their remarks, several political leaders pledged continued support for President Tinubu.
Senator George Sekibo thanked the President for projects and appointments benefitting Rivers State, while Okey Chinda, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, assured that support for Tinubu in 2027 would surpass that of 2023.
Also present, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaehwule, APC Chairman in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, and former PDP State Chairman, Felix Obuah, all expressed support for the President’s re-election.
By Blessing Ibunge, Port Harcourt
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