By Emegwoako C. Paschal
Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State, has responded to reports that the state government denied the Labour Party access to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for a rally.
In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Evangelist Tony Ekhine, a chieftain of the LP in Edo State, said he personally wrote to the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, requesting the use of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium but was told that the premises was closed to political activities.
He was, however, advised to use the Garrick Ground on Ekewan Road, opposite the University of Benin, Ekewan Campus, but was again denied access, necessitating the use of the Baptist Church Ground.
“We wrote to the state government for the use of Sam Ogbemudia Stadium,” he explained. The letter was acknowledged in the SSG’s office, and we were advised to request use of the Garrick grounds, which we did and were granted. However, we were denied access to the ground at the eleventh hour. The act is barbaric, backward, primitive, and heartbreaking.”
In response, the state governor noted that the state Labour Party leadership applied for use of the facility late. Furthermore, they were not given enough time to prepare the facility for such an event.
