The Ebonyi State Government on Thursday offered reasons why the opposition All Progressives Congress in the state would not be allowed to host its Saturday’s proposed rally at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki.
Addressing members of the state chapter of the Sports Writers Association who paid him a courtesy visit in his office, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor David Umahi, Emmanuel Uzor, explained that the stadium was currently undergoing series of reconstruction works, including asphalting and installation of floodlights.
Uzor urged the party to look for alternative venue for its rally on account of the inconvenient nature of the atadium at this time, adding that Umahi has brought in investors from China who were currently working to upgrade the stadium to international status.
While reinstating the State Government’s commitment to accommodating all political groupings in the State, the Governor’s media aide noted that any political activity in the place would jeopardize the work currently ongoing at the stadium.
Uzor’s words: “Abakaliki Township Stadium, now Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium, as you all know has been under construction, and as I am talking to you, the asphalting works at the back of the stadium is ongoing and the illumination of the flood light and the popular stand is also ongoing.
“The state Governor just came back from China and he has brought some investors who are coming to look into the stadium and know how they can upgrade it to more international standard.
“Any political activity in that place, especially by a particular party that is divided along three different strange lines, will jeopardize the construction work in the stadium.
“We believe in accommodating all the different voices, especially different parties in the state.
“We don’t want to stiffle any opposition.
“Any opposition with credible integrity that wants to do anything is free to do it but as for the stadium, it is regrettably unconducive for now
“Meanwhile, if you notice for some time, even the state government has not done anything in the stadium because of the work going on there.
“So, I want to use this opportunity to tell the faction of the APC that the earlier they started looking for an alternative, the better for them because that place is a no go area not because they are opposition.
“After all, how many are they?
“But because we are working at the stadium.”
Recall that a faction of the APC in the state had announced that it will hold a mega rally on Saturday to draw membership to the party at the Pa Ngele Oruta Abakaliki Township Stadium ahead of the 2019 general election.
In a swift reaction, however, the factional Publicity Secretary of APC in the State, Chika Nwoba, has challenged the submissions of the State Government, insisting that the party must use the venue for its rally irrespective of the ongoing construction works.
Nwoba, who acknowledged that the State Government had written the party explaining its position on the matter, still maintained that such explanation would not deter them.
He wrote on his facebook page: “We are using the state township stadium on Saturday for our rally irrespective of the refusal of the state government.
“We are using it and we are here warning the touts who would be sent by the Governor or anybody to stop our entry into the facility to please stay at home for their own interest. We will not entertain any nonsense that day.
“The state government wrote to our great party, the APC this morning saying that the stadium was undergoing reconstruction, a stadium that was used for several events a few days ago.
“So, may it be known to all Ebonyians that the APC Ebonyi state chapter shall be making use of the stadium on Saturday, reconstruction works or not.”
Oswald Agwu
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