Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has responded to recent claims made by his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, regarding the alleged denial of access to a major state facility.
The reaction of the Rivers State governor was contained in a report shared on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of Punch Newspaper on Friday, January 30, 2026.
The report addressed comments made earlier by Wike during a public event held in Port Harcourt.
Speaking at the event, the former Rivers State governor alleged that the current state administration deliberately prevented him and his associates from using the General Yakubu Gowon Stadium.
According to Wike, an application was submitted to the Rivers State Government for the use of the stadium but was rejected.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the decision and issued a strong warning, suggesting that such denial would not be tolerated in the future.
Wike was quoted as saying:
“We applied to the Rivers State Government to use the General Yakubu Gowon Stadium but they refused. If they deny us next time, we will take it by force. No one can deny us Rivers State facilities.”
The statement quickly generated controversy and sparked reactions across political and social circles, prompting an official response from the Rivers State Government.
In the report cited by Punch Newspaper, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Honour Sirawoo, dismissed Wike’s claims, describing them as misleading.
Sirawoo clarified that the decision to deny the request was not politically motivated but based on technical and safety considerations.
According to him, the General Yakubu Gowon Stadium is currently undergoing construction work and is not in a condition suitable for large gatherings.
He explained that government officials, alongside technical experts, recently inspected the facility and advised against its use for major events at this time.
Sirawoo quoted the site engineer overseeing the project, Michael Ebitenye, who raised concerns about the state of the stadium. He said:
“The site engineer, Michael Ebitenye, who led government officials on the inspection tour, said the stadium is currently in a delicate condition, warning that heavy human traffic could damage underground pipes beneath the pitch.”
The Rivers State Government maintained that the restriction was purely precautionary and aimed at preventing damage to public infrastructure as well as ensuring public safety.
Officials stressed that once construction is completed and the facility is deemed safe for use, it would be made available for approved activities without discrimination.
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