The Edo State Coordinator of the City Boy Movement, Paddy Iyamu, has dismissed claims that there was low turnout at the group’s recent empowerment programme in the state.
Speaking in Benin City, Iyamu described the reports as “misleading and unfounded,” explaining that attendance at the event was deliberately limited. According to him, only about 6,000 beneficiaries were invited, making it unrealistic to expect a full crowd at the venue.
He noted that the event held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, which has a much larger seating capacity, and insisted that “there is no way 6,000 people will fill” the facility. He added that suggestions linking the turnout to political rejection were “a big lie.”
Iyamu further explained that the organisers restricted attendance as a safety measure to prevent overcrowding and possible incidents. He said the decision was informed by previous experiences, stressing that the priority was to avoid any form of stampede.
He also disclosed that the empowerment programme was being implemented in phases, noting that organisers opted to decentralise distribution so that beneficiaries could receive their items in batches rather than gathering everyone in one location.
The coordinator added that the initiative extended beyond Edo State to other parts of the South-South region, with beneficiaries drawn from various local government areas.
Items distributed at the programme included tricycles, buses, sewing machines, and laptops, among others, aimed at supporting small businesses and improving livelihoods.
The clarification comes amid ongoing discussions over attendance at the event, which forms part of the movement’s wider outreach activities in the region.