Why Edo denied LP access to the stadium – Obaseki
Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has reacted to reports that the state government has denied Labor access to Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for the party rally.
An LP leader in Edo State, Evangelist Tony Ekhine, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, said he personally wrote to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the state, Osarodion Ogie, for the use of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium but said the premises were closed to political activities.
He was, however, advised to use Garrick's land opposite the University of Benin, Ekewan campus on Ekewan Road, but was again denied the use of Garrick, which necessitated the use of the land of the Baptist Church.
He said: "We have written to the state government for the use of the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium. The letter has been acknowledged at the GSU office and we have been advised to apply for the use of the Garrick ground , which we did and we were granted. But we were denied use of the land at the 11th hour. The act is barbaric, backward, primitive and sad."
Responding, the state governor said the state Labor Party leadership had belatedly requested the use of the facility. In addition, they did not have enough time to prepare the installation for such an event.
He said: "I heard they applied on Wednesday night to hold a rally at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Friday morning, giving us a day's notice. And the tracks at the stadium are still under warranty. .
"Terrain has to be maintained in a certain mode, so it's not just another facility you can walk into and use without preparation.
"If they knew they had a rally on Friday, why couldn't they have given more time and notice for us to give them the conditions under which they can use the land? The same as we made to PDP when they wanted to use the pitch.
“And the only reason we allowed the PDP rally is that it was also used as an opportunity to commission this facility. around town. I expected more from the Labor Party.
“I think they should be more serious. I spoke to my friend Peter Obi the night before. including security and some logistics.
"I didn't know they were coming for a rally. For my part, the problem did not occur to me. People had to deal with the problem at the sports commission and they did this they had to do professionally".
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Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has reacted to reports that the state government has denied Labor access to Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for the party rally.
An LP leader in Edo State, Evangelist Tony Ekhine, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, said he personally wrote to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the state, Osarodion Ogie, for the use of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium but said the premises were closed to political activities.
He was, however, advised to use Garrick's land opposite the University of Benin, Ekewan campus on Ekewan Road, but was again denied the use of Garrick, which necessitated the use of the land of the Baptist Church.
He said: "We have written to the state government for the use of the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium. The letter has been acknowledged at the GSU office and we have been advised to apply for the use of the Garrick ground , which we did and we were granted. But we were denied use of the land at the 11th hour. The act is barbaric, backward, primitive and sad."
Responding, the state governor said the state Labor Party leadership had belatedly requested the use of the facility. In addition, they did not have enough time to prepare the installation for such an event.
He said: "I heard they applied on Wednesday night to hold a rally at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Friday morning, giving us a day's notice. And the tracks at the stadium are still under warranty. .
"Terrain has to be maintained in a certain mode, so it's not just another facility you can walk into and use without preparation.
"If they knew they had a rally on Friday, why couldn't they have given more time and notice for us to give them the conditions under which they can use the land? The same as we made to PDP when they wanted to use the pitch.
“And the only reason we allowed the PDP rally is that it was also used as an opportunity to commission this facility. around town. I expected more from the Labor Party.
“I think they should be more serious. I spoke to my friend Peter Obi the night before. including security and some logistics.
"I didn't know they were coming for a rally. For my part, the problem did not occur to me. People had to deal with the problem at the sports commission and they did this they had to do professionally".
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