Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki
Eko Hot Blog reports that Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has defended the state’s refusal to approve the use of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium for a Labour Party rally in Benin City, the state capital.
The LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, had stormed Edo on Friday and was welcomed by a massive crowd of supporters.
After his party was denied the use of the stadium for its rally, his supporters accused the state governor of denying the approval due to fears of Obi’s rising political might.
But Obaseki dismissed such insinuations in an interview on Channels TV Friday evening.
“They can show us virtually but not on the ground. We are on ground. We’ll see. It’s February 23,” the governor said, laughing.
He went on to explain why the state government did not approve the use of the stadium for the LP’s rally.
Obaseki said the government received notice 24 hours to the event, which it deemed too short.
“The tracks for that stadium are still under warranty,” he said. “The pitch has to be maintained in a certain mould. So it’s not just another facility you can use without preparing.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obaseki’s party, had used the stadium for a rally on October 22.
According to the governor, the PDP met the conditions for using the stadium.
“And the only reason why we allowed the PDP rally was because it was also used as an opportunity to commission that facility. Otherwise most other rallies are held in other large grounds around the city,” he said.
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