Gov Udom gives Buhari ‘conditional approval’ of Uyo Stadium for campaign

After denying President Muhammadu Buhari the use of the 30,000-capacity Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the government of Akwa Ibom State has given a ‘conditional’ approval to Buhari to kick start his campaign in the South south.

In a statement issued by Youth and Sports Commissioner, Monday Ebong Uko, the government gave conditional approval for the stadium to be used for the presidential campaign rally.

The approval came barely few hours after the senior special adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang threatened that the APC may force its way into the 30,000-capacity stadium should the government refuse to reconsider its request.

The government had earlier turned down the APC’s request to use the stadium for the commencement of Buhari’s campaign, scheduled for December 28.

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APC state chairman Iniobong Okopido had applied to the government for the use of the facility for the campaign launch, but the state, through the Youths & Sports Commissioner, Monday Uko, turned the application down and instead offered the small capacity Uyo Township Stadium.

According to Uko, the stadium managers, Messrs. Julius Berger, now on vacation in Germany, had locked the stadium and would resume on January 7, 2019

Uko also explained that it was necessary necessary to safeguard the pitch for the state team, Akwa United to play their home games as the National Professional Football League (NPFL) kicks-off on January 13.

It, however, took the intervention of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang to secure the venue for the presidential campaign

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