“Why I Won’t Let APC Use Abakaliki Stadium For Rally” – Governor Umahi

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State says he has not granted permission for the use of Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium, Abakaliki, for the All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally today, Saturday, August 4th.

The governor made this known at a media briefing after a meeting with heads of security agencies in Abakaliki yesterday  saying that two factions had applied for the same venue on the same date.

“You cannot be at war over your property as the stadium is not the Federal Government (FG) or APC property with both not contributing in any way to renovate it.

“I have the right not to give them the stadium in the first place and why should I give it to them when they do not acknowledge it?

“They would not have seen it to be good to use if I left it the way the preceding government did, but they should realise that wonders are happening in Ebonyi.”

The governor said he had never insulted President Muhammadu Buhari or any APC stakeholder, so he would not allow them to insult him at the stadium.

“I would not allow them to ride through the good roads we constructed and mount our stadium to insult me because they might be attacked.

“I have told heads of security agencies to warn the leaders of the APC faction seeking to hold its rally on Saturday, not ignite crisis in the state through their utterances.

He noted that while on a working tour of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he received a letter from an APC faction that it intended to host Mr Buhari inside the stadium.

“I quickly approved and copied heads of security agencies and was later informed on my return, that it had been shifted to August 11.

“This made us fix the training and recruitment of personnel in the Neigbourhood Security Watch for August 3 and 4 but unknown to me, another faction had fixed its rally for August 4.

“They requested through the commissioner for youths and sports development and I advised them to seek an alternative venue because I will endorse the one I am aware of, that is August 11,” Mr Umahi said.