The governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki has cooled down the controversy over the state’s refusal to approve the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City for the mega rally of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
They accused the Edo state governor of denying Peter Obi the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin for his rally.
During an interview on the popular Channels TV program “Politics Today”, on Friday, November 11, Obaseki revealed that the refusal of the state to grant the Labour Party the usage of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was due to the late notice from the party.
He revealed that the facilities at the stadium were still new and still under warranty as issued by the contractors who built the facility.
He said: “The tracks for that stadium are still under warranty. “The pitch has to be maintained in a certain mold. So it’s not just another facility you can use without preparing.”
It will be recalled that the same stadium was said to have been used by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a rally on Saturday, October 22. When asked why the PDP was able to use it;
He said: “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.”
In reaction, an Obidient tweeted:
“Baba, after all the stuttering and shalaye, forget any future political aspirations. “Edo stood by you when the gang-up was against you, but this is how you pay them back? Sorry Sir, great Edo shall neither forgive not forget this injury done today.”