MICHAEL OKPARA SQUARE DISPUTE: ENUGU TOURISM BOARD EXONERATES MBAH, SAYS VENUE WAS ALREADY BOOKED

The Enugu State Tourism Board has refuted allegations that Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah influenced the alleged denial of access to Michael Okpara Square to Mr. Peter Obi and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for a proposed political rally, insisting that the decision was purely administrative and had nothing to do with the Governor.

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The Board, in a statement issued on Thursday, November 12, 2026, and signed by its Executive Chairman, Dame Rita Mbah, described the allegations as misleading, maintaining that the Governor neither issued any directive nor participated in the decision concerning the use of the public facility.

According to the statement, the request for the venue was presented directly to the Manager of Michael Okpara Square in the presence of the Board’s Chairman. However, the applicant was reportedly informed that the facility had already been fully booked weeks earlier for government programmes and other scheduled activities during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Dame Mbah explained that the period traditionally attracts considerable demand for the facility, making advance reservations necessary to accommodate the numerous programmes lined up for the festive season.

She further alleged that despite being informed that the requested dates were unavailable, the applicant insisted that his letter be received, a development that reportedly resulted in verbal exchanges witnessed by more than five persons.

The Tourism Board Chairman also disclosed that the situation was not peculiar to the NDC, noting that other applicants, including religious organisations, had similarly been unable to secure the facility after submitting requests for dates that had already been taken.

She stressed that the Board’s position was guided strictly by its established booking arrangements, adding that no communication, instruction or intervention was received from Governor Mbah concerning the request.

Dame Mbah expressed concern over attempts to politicise what she described as a routine administrative decision, warning against the attribution of actions to the Governor without verifiable evidence.

“The public deserves facts, not fabricated narratives designed to whip up political sentiments,” she stated.

The clarification comes against the backdrop of public debate and social media allegations suggesting that the proposed rally venue was denied on the Governor’s instructions.

However, the Tourism Board maintained that the matter was entirely a question of scheduling and prior commitments, insisting that the existing booking arrangements, rather than any political consideration or gubernatorial directive, informed its position.

The Board’s statement, therefore, seeks to draw a clear distinction between the administration of a public facility and the political interpretations being attached to the incident.