‘We Will Break It By Force’: Wike Threatens To Storm Rivers Stadium As Govt Denies Blocking Pro-Tinubu Rally

Port Harcourt, Rivers State– The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a fiery threat to forcefully gain access to the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt, accusing the Rivers State Government of deliberately blocking a rally by a pro–President Bola Tinubu support group, Renewed Hope Ambassadors.

Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers State and a central figure in the protracted political crisis rocking the state, made the remarks on Friday while inaugurating coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.

Speaking before a large crowd at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt, Wike alleged that the state government refused to grant approval for the use of the Yakubu Gowon Stadium for the group’s rally.

“We applied to the Rivers State Government for the Yakubu Gowon Stadium. They refused us,” Wike declared. “But let me say, next time we will do this, if you don’t approve it, we will break it by force.”

The minister’s statement, delivered in a combative tone, drew loud cheers from supporters at the event.

“So the coordinator of the state [Renewed Hope Ambassadors], write again to the state government. Choose a day, and we will inaugurate the ward level,” Wike continued. “I want to say to everybody to hear: enough is enough. We are all from Rivers State.”

Wike insisted that no government had the right to deny Rivers people access to public facilities, warning that resistance would be met with decisive action.

“Nobody can deny us the facilities of the state. If you don’t agree to give us, we will do the needful, and we take it by force. Heaven will never fall. Even when heaven falls, everywhere will be at peace,” he said.

The former governor also urged members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to remain fearless in the face of what he described as intimidation by the current Rivers State administration, which is controlled by his political rival and successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

“We must go and make sure this is inaugurated ward by ward, unit by unit,” Wike said. “We will take a date to make sure we inaugurate them. I have told the leadership of the party, the way they have done for local government, so we will do for the wards.”

According to Wike, logistics and funding have already been put in place to ensure the grassroots mobilisation of the group in support of President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”

“We will provide vehicles for each of the wards. So nobody should be intimidated. We are here to support you,” he told the crowd.

“The members of various councils have agreed to make more commitments to make sure each ward gets a bus, to make sure the campaign for the Renewed Hope Agenda is being realised.”

The Renewed Hope Ambassadors is a political support group aligned with President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In Rivers State, its activities have taken on added political significance amid the bitter power struggle between Wike and the Fubara-led state government, a crisis that has polarised political actors and led to repeated clashes over control of state institutions.

However, the Rivers State Government swiftly rejected Wike’s allegation, describing it as false, misleading and designed to inflame tensions.

Speaking to journalists on Friday evening after an inspection tour of the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Honour Sirawoo, said the facility was never denied to any group for political reasons.

Sirawoo explained that the stadium is currently undergoing extensive reconstruction and is therefore unsafe for public use.

“The allegation is baseless,” he said. “The Yakubu Gowon Stadium is under reconstruction. With the level of ongoing work at the facility, no group can use it at the moment.”

According to him, safety concerns informed the government’s position, stressing that allowing a large political gathering at the stadium while construction is ongoing would pose serious risks to lives and property.

Sirawoo added that the state government remains committed to public safety and due process, and would not compromise these standards for political activities, regardless of the individuals or groups involved.