Atiku: We didn’t deny PDP use of stadium – Kogi Govt

The Kogi State Government has dismissed as “routine fiction”, claims by the opposition People Democratic Party (PDP ) that the party was denied the use of the Confluence Stadium for its presidential campaigns slated for Monday 7th January, 2019.

Reacting to the claim in Lokoja, on Thursday night, the Director General of Media and Strategy to the Governor, Kingsley Fanwo said the Government of Kogi State knows when to draw “partisan lines” and that the Stadium belongs to all Kogi people regardless of political affiliations.

According to the Governor’s spokesperson, PDP’s claim was capable of portraying the State Government in bad light, urging the opposition party not to mislead the public.

“The claim by the PDP spokesperson, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan that the State Government denied the party of the use of the Confluence Stadium for its Presidential Campaign is false, misleading and a deliberate attempt at portraying the State Government in bad light.

“The fact here is that the State Government had approved the use of the Stadium and directed the Secretary to the State Government to communicate same to the party. As I speak to you here, the DG of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in the State, Rt. Hon. Clarence Olafemi is in possession of the approval letter.

“Mr Ologbondiyan‘s allegation is an embarrassment to the Government and people of Kogi State. I know he is an honourable man and that he will apologize to the good people of his state for the false claims. To claim denial of the use should ordinarily mean that their was an official communication to the effect of the alleged denial.

“It is important to clarify this to enlighten the public before they are misled again. We have a good relationship with Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan who was a part of the Inauguration Team of our Administration. I would have ordinarily expected him to get across to us to know the true situation before misrepresenting the facts of the matter to the general public.

“Governor Yahaya Bello is an honourable man and a statesman who will never involve himself in dirty politics. We wish the PDP a successful rally in the State,” he noted.

He said Governor Bello was prepared to guarantee the freedom of all parties to campaign in the state, urging politicians to avoid fake news that could heat up the political landscape.