‘If You Deny Us Public Facilities Again, We’ll Take It By Force’, Wike Warns Rivers Government

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused the Rivers State Government of denying him and his political allies access to public facilities in the state, warning that future refusals would be met with resistance.

Wike made the remarks on Friday in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of senatorial district and local government area coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, a rainbow political coalition for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Addressing supporters at the event held at the State Polytechnic premises, the former Rivers State governor said an application to use the General Yakubu Gowon Stadium for the event was turned down by the state government. He described the refusal as unacceptable and vowed that such actions would no longer be tolerated.

“We applied to the Rivers State Government to use the General Yakubu Gowon Stadium, and they refused us. Next time we apply and they don’t approve it, we’ll break it by force,” Wike said.

He directed the state coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to write again to the Rivers State Government and fix a date for the inauguration of ward-level coordinators.

“Everybody here, enough is enough. We are all from Rivers State. Nobody can deny us the facilities of the state. If you don’t agree to give us, we’d do the needful and take it by force. Heaven will never fall, and even if heaven falls, everywhere will be at peace,” Wike added.

Reiterating his position, Wike said the group must move forward with its activities, stressing that he and those present are indigenes of Rivers State and cannot be excluded from using state-owned facilities.

The comments come amid prolonged political tension in Rivers State following the rift between Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which has continued to fuel divisions within the state’s political landscape.