From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The main opposition party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused All Progressive Congress (APC) led federal government of denying its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar of campaign rally venue in Kaduna.
The campaign rally was scheduled to hold on Monday being October 17 at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello Stadium (ABS), but few hours to the event, the approved application was withdrawn.
The Kaduna State PDP Chairman and Chairman, PDP State Chairmen Forum,
Hon. Felix Hassan Hyat, in a statement said the federal government through the Minister of Sports denied the party to use the facility for campaign on the excuse that the stadium was under renovation.
Hyat however, said the state Governor, Nasir El-rufai intervened and provided an alternative venue at Ranchers Bees, the township stadium.
“It has become very necessary at this point to address our teeming supporters and the entire nation on the sad and unfortunate political situation in our dear country today.
“As you are aware, the presidential candidate of our party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was billed to hold his presidential rally in Kaduna State on Monday 17th October, 2022 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium.
“Regrettably, the APC-led federal government through the Minister of Sports denied our party the opportunity to use the facility despite applying for it more than seven days to the date of the rally. It is instructive to note that we received the correspondence withholding approval only yesterday (Saturday) 15th October, 2022 citing renovation work on the facility as an excuse.
“However, a physical tour of the stadium has revealed that there’s no renovation work ongoing either on the main bowl of the stadium or its adjoining structures. This is even as the same facility was used for the 2022 Eid-el-Moulud prayers just last Monday.
“Surprisingly, today (Sunday) 16th October, 2022, we received another correspondence dated …. intimating us of approval by the Honourable Minister, less than 24 hours to the commencement of the rally and after the Kaduna State Government had approved Ranchers’ Bees Stadium as an alternative venue for us.
“Without any doubt, there was simply no initial intention to grant us approval to use the facility by the Minister and thus the late approval was done deliberately as pretence.
“We are concerned by this apparent abuse of power by the APC-led federal government which, to say the least, constitutes serious threat to our nation’s democracy.
“The Honourable Minister needs to be reminded that public facilities such as the Ahmadu Bello Stadium are our commonwealth and approval for their use should be given to all shades of citizens and groups without discrimination.
“We, therefore, condemn this grave abuse of power in its entirety and demand a stop to such show of political brigandage.
“The people of Kaduna State, as things stand, are with the PDP candidate and no amount of clandestine plots to discourage people from turning out will deter them from coming out en masse to show their support for the PDP candidate at the rally tomorrow and in the elections come February 2022.
“May I also use this opportunity to express our deepest regrets and apology for any inconvenience the rally might cause commuters, business owners along the Kaduna Township Stadium (formerly known as Rancher’s Bees) route”. The statement said.