Edo concedes stadium to Mrs. Jonathan; Aisha Buhari to wait

The government of Edo state, southern Nigeria has resolved the clash in the booking for the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin in favour of Patience Jonathan, wife of Nigeria’s President.

Patience is scheduled to address a rally in the city on Saturday, the same day that Aisha Buhari, wife of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress was also expected in town to deliver a message of change to the women.

A statement by the commissioner for information, Louis Odion said Aisha Buhari had booked to use the facility since last week, and that jingles announcing her event were playing on radio and TV stations. In contrast, Mrs. Jonathan only made a booking on Tuesday.

The facility is owned by the Government of Edo state, being controlled by Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the All Progressives Congress.

Odion said “the mix-up in the use of the stadium on Saturday, March 14, 2015 was occasioned by the laxity on the part of the officials of the Ministry of Sports who, without reference to their supervisors, proceeded to collect money and issue receipt only yesterday (Tuesday) to the PDP for use of the stadium knowing full well that the APC had, last week, applied for and got approval for use of same facility same day.

“In fact, jingles were already running on local television and radio stations announcing that the wife of APC’s presidential candidate, Hajia Aisha Buhari, would be in Benin on Saturday, March 14, 2015 to deliver the message of change to Edo women.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that being the owner of the said facility, Edo State Government reserves the right to insist that the party that got approval first be allowed use of the stadium. In the circumstance, we imagine the idle denizens of Edo PDP must by now be salivating at the prospects of having an opportunity to unleash mayhem on peace-loving people of Edo State with the excuse that money was collected from them.

“But as civilized people, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has directed that Mrs. Patience Jonathan, the First Lady, be granted use of the stadium on Saturday, while Hajia Aisha Buhari, wife of the APC presidential candidate will have her turn on another day”.