Wike threatens to take over stadium by force if Rivers government refuses to grant him access

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Wike threatens to take over stadium by force if Rivers government refuses to grant him access

The political tension in Rivers State may escalate if the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, carries out his threat to forcefully gain access to the Yakubu Gowon Stadium for political rallies.

Wike issued the warning on Friday, January 30, in Port Harcourt, saying he and his supporters would “break” into the stadium if the Rivers State Government continues to deny them permission to use the facility for political activities. He insisted that “heaven will not fall” if the stadium is forcibly accessed.

The minister spoke during the inauguration of senatorial and local government coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, a political group formed to mobilise support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to Wike, his group formally applied to the state government for permission to use the Yakubu Gowon Stadium but was turned down, a move he described as unprecedented.

“We applied to the state government to use the Yakubu Gowon Stadium and they refused. Next time, if we apply and they refuse again, we will break it and nothing will happen,” Wike said.

He maintained that Rivers State remains at the forefront of political mobilisation and would continue to lead in demonstrating support for President Tinubu. “I know after today, other states may inaugurate their own structures, but Rivers State will always lead the way. Support is not by mouth; we have shown commitment with action,” he said.

Wike further declared that political activities ahead of future elections had officially begun, stressing that ward-level inaugurations would soon follow. “I told you that by January we would start playing politics. This is January, and we have started. If you don’t give us the venue, we will break it,” he reiterated.

The former Rivers governor also questioned the state government’s loyalty to President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections, suggesting that political alignment was necessary to attract federal goodwill.

“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.

Wike argued that political rewards are based on commitment rather than financial contributions. “You don’t need N600 billion. All you need is commitment. That is what brings reward, even if it brings envy,” he said.

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