*By David Uka*
The Ebonyi state government has barred the opposition All Progressives Congress(APC) in the state from using Township Stadium, Abakaliki for its rally.
The State Government cited ongoing renovation work at the Stadia as reason from the denying the APC the use of the stadium.
The APC in the state had announced that it will hold its mega rally to garner support for President Buhari at Abakaliki Township stadium where the national chairman of APC Comrade Adams Oshohomole and other NWC members are expected to attend ahead of the 2019 general election.
But addressing members of the state Sports Writers Associatio(SWAN)
who paid him a courtesy call in his office, Chief Press Secretary to
Governor David Umahi, Emmanuel Uzor announced that the stadium was
undergoing serious reconstruction including asphalting and illumination of floodlight.
He noted that Governor Umahi has brought in investors from China that
will upgrade the stadium to International standard and therefore any
political activity in the stadium will jeopardize the ongoing renovation currently ongoing at the stadium.
Uzor said “Abakaliki Township stadium now Pa Ngele Oruta stadium as
you all know has been under construction and as I am talking to you
the asphalt at the back of the stadium is ongoing and the illumination
of the flood light and the popular stand is ongoing.
“The state government and the Governor just came back from China, he
brought some investors who are coming to look into the stadium and
know how they can upgrade it to International standard.
“Any political activity in that place especially by a particular political party
that is divided along three different strange lines will jeopardize
the construction work in the stadium.
“We believe in accommodating all different voices especially
different parties in the state. We don’t want to stiff any opposition,
any opposition with credible integrity that wants to do anything is
free to do it but as for the stadium, 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 the earlier they start looking for an alternative, the better for them. Of course, they have their own stadium at Nkwegu Ugballa. The
earlier they start looking for alternative, the better for them because that place is a no go area not because they are in the opposition.
But in a swift reaction, the state Publicity Secretary APC , Nwoba Chika insisted that the Party will make use of the stadium irrespective of the refusal of the state government.
He said that the party wiil resist any attempt to stop them from using the stadium and warned trouble makers to stay away from the event on Saturday.
