Politics
Rivers, Wike’s Renewed Hope family clash over alleged denial of venue
• We did no such thing, stadium under construction, says the govt
Rivers State Government and the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA), led by the Minister of Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike, have disagreed over the group’s claim that the government refused to approve the Yakubu Gowon Stadium located in Port Harcourt for the RHA’s inauguration in the state.
The RHA, which is the main campaign movement for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term, alleged that the denial of the Governor Siminalayi Fubara-led government forced it to hold its inauguration at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic on Friday.
The Rivers State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Desmond Akawor, while addressing the mammoth crowd that attended the event, first accused the government of denying the group access to the Yakubu Gowon Stadium.
Wike reinforced the allegation and dared Fubara to lock up the stadium again and see what would happen.
The minister said the organisers had applied to use the stadium for the event, but that the governor refused to approve it.
He threatened that they would force themselves into the facility if the governor repeated a similar action.
He said: “We had called (applied) to the state government for the General Gowon Yakubu Stadium. They refused us. Let me say next time they do this, if you don’t approve it, we will break it by force. So the coordinator of the state wrote again to the state government and chose a day to inaugurate the ward level; I want to say it for everybody to hear. Enough is enough.
“We are all from Rivers State; nobody can deny us the facilities of the state. If you don’t agree to give us, we will do the needful. And we will take it by force. Heaven will never fall. Even when heaven falls, everywhere will be at peace.”
A former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was inaugurated as the Coordinator for Rivers West; the Executive Director, Finance, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Boma Iyaye, Rivers East; While the Executive Director, Projects of the South-South Development Commission, Chief Marcus Nle-Eji, would coordinate Rivers South-East.
Wike said Rivers was the first state to inaugurate the Renewed Hope Ambassadors’ coordinators, adding that other states would follow in no distant time.
He said: “Let me thank the coordinator of the state of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors for what you and your members at the local government level have done and the senatorial districts led Boma Iyaye (Rivers East Senatorial District), Marcus Nle-Eji (Rivers South-East) and Felic Obuah (Rivers West) for thus massive mobilization that you have done today, by inaugurating the coordinators of Renewed Hope Agenda in Rivers State.
“This is the first in this country. We challenge any state to come and do the same thing we have done. I know after today, each state is coming to inaugurate their state chapters. Rivers State will always lead the way.”
Wike, “Support is not by mouth. You have shown commitment. You don’t have your governor with you, yet you said you’re supporting Mr President and you will do everything humanly possible to return Mr President by special grace in 2027.”
He referred to the N600billion left in the state coffers by the immediate past Administrator of the State, Ibok Ete-Ibas, but said the people under the Renewed Hope Family, with their little resources, would deliver President Tinubu in 2027
He said: “Look at the vehicles there, you don’t need N600billion. You don’t need it. All you need is commitment, and you have shown it. What you have done today, let me remind you, will bring a lot of envy, will bring a lot of hatred. Don’t mind that. Be committed and continue to support Mr President.”
He urged the people to support the candidates who emerged in the last APC primary elections ahead of the state constituency poll.
He said, “It has never happened in any state. No matter what we are doing, we have led the way as usual. Let me thank Mr President for supporting the Joint Coalition to produce the candidate for the February 2026 state constituency election.
“Mr President has given the Joint Coalition to make sure in Khana Constituency 2 we support Mrs Burabari Loloo. In Ahoada State Constituency 2, we support Napoleon Okadikpe.
“These are the candidates of the joint coalition. Anywhere you are, these are the candidates you will support for the February 2026 election.”
He recalled that when he visited the various local government areas on a thank-you visit, he told them politics would start in January.
“Now the time has come, and we have started the politics. Everybody go home, whether you’re in PDP, APC, or you don’t belong to any political party, but remember the Joint Coalition. Go and vote for our two candidates in the February constituency election 2026,” he said.
He added: “We are not quarrelling with anybody except those who are quarrelling themselves. We are here, we will never disappoint you, and we will tell you the truth. We have not completed this journey. We must go and make sure this is ward-by-ward, unit-by-unit, and we will take a date to make sure we inaugurate them.
“I have told the leadership of the party. Nobody should be intimidated. We are here to support you. The members of the elders’ council have agreed to make a greater commitment to ensure each ward gets a bus to make sure they campaign for the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Reacting to the allegations, the Rivers State Government described them as false and misleading, explaining that the Yakubu Gowon Stadium was currently undergoing reconstruction and was unsafe for public use.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Honour Sirawoo, who inspected the facility, said the allegation had no basis.
Sirawoo, who toured the stadium alongside the Commissioner for Sports, Christopher Green, under the guidance of the site engineer, said the level of ongoing reconstruction made it impossible for any group to use the facility at this time.
He advised political leaders in the state to place the interest of Rivers State above political ambitions, noting that there is life after politics.
He added that Governor Siminalayi Fubara remained committed and was at the forefront of efforts to ensure the re-election of President Tinubu.
Also, the Commissioner for Sports, who also served as the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Christopher Green, said his office did not receive any formal request for the use of the stadium.
Green described the allegation as baseless, noting that even the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, where the inauguration was eventually held, is a Rivers State Government–owned facility.
The site engineer, Michael Ebitenye, who led government officials on the inspection tour, said the stadium was currently in a delicate condition, warning that heavy human traffic could damage underground pipes beneath the pitch.
He also spoke of the serious safety hazards in the VIP sections and other areas under reconstruction.
He stressed that the contracting firm, Monimichelle, remained committed to the safety of lives and property and would not permit the use of facilities undergoing renovation for any event, regardless of political affiliation.
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