According to the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dave Umahi, Emmanuel Uzor while addressing members of the State Sports Writers Association(SWAN) when they paid him a courtesy call in his office, maintained that the stadium was undergoing serious reconstruction including asphalting and illumination of floodlight and maintained that any political activity in the place will jeopardize the work currently ongoing at the stadium.
Uzor also stated that the Governor has brought investors from China to the state to upgrade the stadium to more International stadium.
Uzor said “Abakaliki Township stadium now Pa Ngele Oruta stadium as you all know has been under construction and as I am talking to you the asphalt at the back of the stadium is ongoing and the illumination of the floodlight and the popular stand is ongoing.
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“The state government and the Governor just came back from China, he brought some investors who are coming to look into the stadium and know how they can upgrade it to more International standard.
“Any political activity in that place, especially by a particular party that is divided along three different strange lines, will jeopardize the construction work in the stadium.
“We believe in accommodating all the different voices especially different parties in the state. We don’t want to stiff any opposition, any opposition with credible integrity that wants to do anything is free to do it but as for the stadium, if you notice for some time, even the state government has not done anything in the stadium because of the work going on there.
“So, I want to use this opportunity to tell the faction of the APC the earlier they start looking for an alternative, the better for them. Of course, they have their own stadium at Nkwegu Ugballa. The earlier they start looking for an alternative, the better for them because that place is a no go area not because they are opposition after all, how many are they? But because we are working at the stadium.”
Meanwhile, the Publicity Secretary to Apc Nwoba Chika Nwoba in his reaction insisted that the stadium must be used for the rally.
Hear him “We are using the state township stadium on Saturday for our rally irrespective of the refusal of the state government.
We are using it and we are here warning the touts who would be sent by the governor or anybody to stop our entry into the facility to please stay at home for their own interest. “We will not entertain any nonsense that day.
The state government wrote to our great party, the APC this morning saying that the stadium was undergoing reconstruction, a stadium that was used for several events a few days ago.
So, may it be known to all Ebonyians that the APC Ebonyi state chapter shall be making use of the stadium on Saturday, reconstruction works or not.
Recall that a faction of the APC in the state had announced that it will hold a mega rally to draw membership like The former Governor of Ebonyi State chief Martin Nwanchor Elechi, Senator Sonni Ogbuorji, Prof. Benard Odoh to the party at the Pa Ngele Oruta Abakalikit township stadium ahead of the 2019 general election.
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