Kwankwaso’s request to use Eagle Square for presidential declaration ‘rejected’

Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano governor, has been informed that he cannot use Eagle Square and the Abuja International Conference for his presidential declaration.

According to a statement by the Kwankwaso Campaign Organisation, the senator’s request was rejected in a letter signed by Usman Mukhtar Raji for the facility manager of Integrated Facility Management Services Ltd.

The company manages both the Abuja International Conference and Eagle Square.

Kwankwaso Campaign Organisation said the reason given for the decision was “flimsy,” describing it as the “handiwork of the government in power”.

The campaign organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant said the approval for the use of the Eagle Square has been sought and paid for.

The statement read: “Kwankwaso Declaration: FG Turns Down Request to Use Eagle Square Just 24 hours to the highly publicized presidential declaration of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso due to hold at the Eagle Square on Wednesday, the 29th August, 2018, the Federal Capital Territory Administration(FCTA) has turned down the request earlier approved for some flimsy reasons.

“In a letter dated August 27th, 2018 and signed by Usman Mukhtar Raji for the Facility Manager and received on August 28th, 2018 barely 24 hours to the scheduled declaration, the Abuja International Conference and Eagle Square, managed by the Integrated Facility Management Services Ltd has reversed itself in respect of approval granted the organizers of the declaration of Senator Kwankwaso.

“We at the Kwankwaso Campaign Organisation sees the development as a handiwork of the government in power who will not see anything good in growing our fledgling democracy as no level playing field has been created to allow for viable opposition in the country.

“Even at that, earlier Tuesday morning the Abuja International Conference and Eagle Square, managed by the Integrated Facility Management Services Ltd refused us access to inspect the premises demanding us to present a police permit, when actual approval for the use of the Eagle Square has been sought and paid for more than one week to the said declaration.

“The above development will in no way dampen our morale to go ahead with the declaration or chicken-out as it will only embolden us to legally pursue our fundamental right to freedom of movement and association.”

The former Kano governor is scheduled to declare his ambition to contest the presidency Wednesday.