Assembly Demolition: Rivers government says, it’s not due to crisis with Wike

Rivers State government has given explanation on the demolition of Rivers State House of Assembly complex, saying, it was not due to crisis between the former governor of the State, Nyesom Wike and governor Siminalaya Fubara.

River State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joe Johnson, while speaking to journalists on the development, said, the building was rocked with explosion on October 29, 2023 and upon assessment by the governor, it was discovered uninhabitable.

He said, a building firm was contacted and were told that the building has integrity issues and was unfit for legislative business.
As at Friday, the hallowed chambers and the adjoining offices have been completely pulled down.

Out of ten bulldozers that moved to the complex on the first day of demolition being Tuesday, four of them were left carrying out demolition of remaining structures as at Friday.

Johnson said, the Assembly complex was built by the former Peter Odili administration, adding that the explosion had rendered the building useless.

“So, the government will rebuild the complex. But for the meantime, the state has provided a place for the lawmakers to be sitting pending when the building is completed,” Johnson had stated.

A team of policemen in a patrol van was stationed at the Assembly entrance, while both ends of the Moscow Road leading into the complex had security blockades though human and vehicular restrictions had been relaxed.