Akwa Ibom govt stops Buhari from using stadium for campaign

The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected an application for
the use of Godswill Akapbio International Stadium for the
inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign in Uyo,
capital of the state.

Instead, the government approved the Uyo Township Stadium for
the presidential campaign, which is scheduled to start on Friday
December 28.

A statement issued through the state Commissioner of Youths and
Sports Development, Mr Monday Uko, said the refusal became
necessary in view of the Nigeria Premier Football League season
scheduled to begin on January 13, 2019 in Uyo.

It also claimed that the firm handling the maintenance of the
stadium, Julius Berger Plc, had closed for the year and that it
would be impossible to ‘regrass’ the stadium for the pre-fixed
matches.

The statement partly read, “The Akwa Ibom State Government had
received with gladness the notice of the proposed visit of the His
Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Muhammed Buhari, on December 28 to our dear state.

“Consequent to this proposed visit, the Ministry of Youths and
Sport is in receipt of the letter of application dated 19th 2018
requesting the use of Godswill Akpabio International stadium as the
venue for the ceremony.

“Whereas we have sent a letter dated 20th 2018 in response to
the application addressed to Honourable Ini Okopido, the state
chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Akwa Ibom State, we are
obliged, in the light of the unfortunate attempts by political
actors and commentators to pit Akwa Ibom State against President
Buhari and the presidency, to inform people of Akwa Ibom and the
entire public of the reason for our inability to approve the use of
the requested venue.

“As stated in our report, our inability is hinged on two
grounds: that the next season of the Nigeria Premier Football
league is scheduled to begin on January, 13th 2018. In view of this
and the fixtures of the home matches for Akwa United, it will be
practically impossible to regrass the stadium.”

It, however, said that the alternative venue was in perfect
condition for the event.

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