‘Why Fayose was denied use of stadium for campaign’

The Ekiti State government said yesterday that it denied the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the use of Oluyemisi Kayode Stadium, Ado Ekiti, for flag off of Ayo Fayose’s governorship campaign, because the facility had been booked for a league match.

The PDP, through the Ayo Fayose Campaign Office (AFCO), had lambasted the state government for denying it use of the facility to flag off its governorship campaign which was to be performed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Addressing a

press conference on Sunday, Director General of Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation (AFCO), Chief Dipo Anisulowo, said their request to the government for the use of the facility, through a letter dated March 28, was turned down in a reply with reference No SS2 Vol. 1V/8, dated April 2 and signed by one Mr. P.O. Dada.

Anisulowo said: “The Ekiti State stadium belongs to the people. The public utility is being funded with Ekiti peoples’ money. It is therefore surprising that the people of Ekiti who are members of the opposition party are being denied the use of the public utility, more so when Governor Kayode Fayemi and his party used the same stadium for the same purpose.”

Following the refusal, the PDP said it had shifted the exercise indefinitely.

But yesterday, the government through the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Kayode Olaosebikan, said the stadium had been booked for a sporting event, adding that the PDP could use it when it is free.

“The stadium is already booked for a league match for that same day. If it is another day, there would be no problem. Anybody can ask for the use of the stadium and if available, it will be released. Public property are primarily meant for sporting activities,” he said.