AKPABIO ORDERS PULL DOWN OF AKWA IBOM STADIUM ENTRANCE GATE

The Akwa Ibom Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Senator Godswill Akpabio has ordered immediate and forceful pulling down the entrance gate of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo for access to kick start President Muhammadu Buhari's campaign on Friday in Uyo, the state capital.

This is sequel to the letter from the Ministry of Youths and Sport to the Chairman of the APC, Ini Okopido declining approval for the use of the facility.

According to the release signed by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Sir Monday Ebong Uko, the State Government in the alternative has gracefully made available the Uyo Township stadium which was used for the well attended Christmas carol night.

The release states "The Government of Akwa Ibom State has received with gladness the notice of the proposed visit of His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR, to our dear state on December 28, 2018. "

"Consequent to this proposed visit, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Akwa Ibom State is in receipt of a letter of application dated December 19, 2018, requesting for the use of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium as the venue for his reception ceremony.

"Whereas we have sent a letter, dated December 20, 2018 in response to the application, addressed to Hon. Ini Okopido, the State Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Akwa Ibom State, we are obliged, in light of the unfortunate attempt by some political actors and commentators to pit Akwa Ibom State Government against President Mohammadu Buhari and the Presidency.

Adducing reasons for the decline of the use of the stadium by government, Uko stated further "May we inform Akwa Ibom People and the entire public, of the reasons for our inability to approve the use of the requested venue,

He explained: "That the next season of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is scheduled to begin on January 13, 2018. In view of this and the fixtures of home matches for Akwa United FC, it will be practically impossible to ‘regrass’ the stadium for pre-fixed matches, if used for non-sports activities, because of the nature of pressure that such events bring on the pitch.

Additionally, The Maintenance Contractor (Julius Berger) had also advised that the present atmospheric conditions being very hostile to the pitch, the facility should not be used for non-sport activities during this harmattan period, so as to avoid inflicting long term or irreversible damage to the grass on the football pitch. This reason forced the relocation of the State’s Christmas Carols festival from the earlier proposed Godswill Akpabio International Stadium to the Uyo township Stadium.

According to him, the stadium from its inception has been under a maintenance contract with Julius Berger Construction Company. They operate all the sensitive and non-sensitive components of the facility.

"They had closed for the year and proceeded on vacation (as it has been their usual practice) and are due to resume on January 7, 2018.

"The implication of this is that, the technical capacity required to activate the venue is currently unavailable, and this is not within our control."

Uko said the Ministry has however approved, in the alternative, the use of the Uyo Township Stadium for the event and guaranteed that the approved venue is in perfect condition.

Miffed by this, APC On the order of Senator Akpabio has mobilised hoodlums to pull down all gates leading in to the main bowl of the stadium which they intend to set up a stage for the rally.

It would be recalled that few months ago, the APC members had vandalised the facility of government Primary school in Eket to carry out a rally for Nsima Ekere, it's governorship candidate.

(c) 9jaecho.com

What is wrong with these people sef?

I thought they said the said date clash with the date Udom was supposed to use the stadium for some reception?