President Goodluck Jonathan’s one-day campaign visit to Ekiti State scheduled for April 8 has been postponed .
The President was initially billed to inaugurate the campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party’s gubernatorial candidate, Mr Ayo Fayose.
At a news conference on Sunday, Director-General, Ayo Fayose’s Campaign team, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, and the State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Pastor Kola Oluwole said the postponement was caused by the refusal of Ekiti State government to approve the usage of Ado-Ekiti Stadium.
They recalled that the leadership of the party in the state had written a letter of request to the state governor, intimating him of the president’s visit .
PDP said it was shocked to read a government reply, dated April 2, 2014 with Reference No SS2 Vol. IV/08 and signed by one Mr P.O Dada, detailing the refusal of the State to allow use of the stadium.
“This action of the State government clearly shows the level of intolerance and unwarranted hatred for the opposition which is condemnable, the DG said.
“The Ekiti State Stadium belongs to the Ekiti people and not APC, the public utility is being funded with Ekiti people’s 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 utilities.”
The party said the development had been communicated to Mr President, who would in due course set a new date.
Reacting, the state Commissioner for Sports, Kayode Olaosebikan, said the date set by PDP for use of the stadium coincided with a national league match already billed for the venue.
According to him, there was nothing political about the decision.
