…Lists safety, others as reasons for demolition
…Decamped lawmakers cry out
The Rivers State government has explained reasons for demolishing the Rivers State House of Assembly complex.
The government spoke through the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joe Johnson, but the 26 lawmakers against the state governor have ignored the reasons and called the demolition an attack on democracy.
Speaking to Correspondents evening of Wednesday, December 13, 2023, the state government mentioned several reasons including a study in the recent past that indicated that the complex was not safe any longer.
Read also: Rivers deepening crisis: Fubara signs ‘quick budget’, Attorney general resigns
The state government said the decision to demolish and rebuild the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex was due to the structural defects which they said arose mainly as a result of the recent explosion and fire incident. The government said the explosion rendered the main building unfit for human use.
A statement issued by Johnson said after the visit of the governor to inspect the level of damage done to the building on the day of the fire incident, it became necessary to invite professionals to advise the government on the integrity of the building.
Read also: Rivers Assembly demolition is ‘rape’ on legislative history – Alabo
Recall that on the night of the attack on the complex explosive dynamites were used to attack the complex which shook it to the foundation. There were visible cracks on the walls afterwards, and the entire structure looked frail and unsafe for legislative business
“After the assessment of the integrity of the complex, the experts warned the government that continuing to use the building in its present state would be disastrous,” he said, noting that the government had tried all cost-saving measures towards repair of the complex until it bowed to superior view of rebuilding the complex to a more befitting edifice.
“In the interim, the Rivers State Government has provided an alternative venue for the House of Assembly to conduct their affairs pending the rebuilding of the complex.”
Read also: Rivers N800bn budget in limbo as bulldozers demolish assembly building
The commissioner reminded people of the state that the former governor had openly remarked that the complex was very bad with evidence of leakages in many places.
In videos, Nyesom Wike was seen saying the complex was not built by the executive arm but by the legislature.
Johnson said the practice was for the executive to handle execution of projects but that the governor at the time (Peter Odili) chose to allow government arms to handle projects in their areas of jurisdiction, thus, the then Speaker, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, handled the construction supervision.
The commissioner said Fubara acted within his powers to demolish the complex and rebuild it to meet safety standards.
