Rivers Govt demolishes House of Assembly complex for renovation
By Emma Ogbuehi
The crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly got messier on Wednesday when the Rivers State government demolished the House of Assembly complex.
The government claimed that the idea of the demolition was for the purpose of renovation.
The demolition is presently ongoing.
TheNiche gathers that not even a pin was taken out of the complex which now lies in utter ruins.
Bulldozers arrived at the Complex around 6am on Wednesday and commenced the demolition exercise about two months after fire gutted the complex.
About 10 bulldozers drove into the premises of the state House of Assembly and started the demolition of the complex.
This came as the factional Speaker, Edison Ehie, led other lawmakers loyal to the governor to hold a sitting early on Wednesday before the demolition began.
It was gathered that Ehie, during the session, said the complex was due for repairs following the explosion that rocked the building on October 30, 2023, saying the governor will provide an alternative place for them to sit for the meantime.
This was as Governor Siminalayi Fubara presented the N800 billion 2024 budget estimates to the Edison Ehie-led group at the Government House the same moment the demolition was carried out.
Ehie was recognised by the court as the Speaker of the House.
The presentation of the budget was held at a hall in the Government House, apparently, due to the “renovation” work at the state assembly complex which started Wednesday morning.
READ ALSO: Court confirms Fubara’s ally, Edison Ehie, as authentic Speaker of Rivers Assembly
The demolition is the new phase of the ugly saga unfolding in Rivers State.
The Assembly complex is now the latest collateral damage in the war of attrition between Governor Fubara and his estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike.
On Monday, 27 members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers cited division within the PDP as the primary reason for their defection to the APC.
Before announcing their defection from PDP to APC, they adopted a resolution condemning the alleged withholding of funds for the management of the Assembly by the state government.
The faction led by its Speaker, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, accused the state Governor, Mr Siminialayi Fubara, of funds starvation them of funds
The 27 lawmakers out of the 32 lawmakers of the House, thereafter, announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking after reading the letters signed by the defected lawmakers, Amaewhule directed the Clerk of the House to convey their resolution to the governor, Mr Siminialayi Fubara and relevant authorities.
According to him, the decision of 27 lawmakers is borne out of the desire to serve the state better. However, the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2023′ scaled through the second reading at the plenary.
But on Tuesday, a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt confirmed Edison Ehie as the authentic Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Edison Ehie is one of the four lawmakers in the camp of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Ehie was suspended and removed as leader of the House by his colleagues in the wake of the crisis at the House of Assembly but his colleagues who are loyal to Fubara elected him Speaker.
The court has also restrained Martin Amaewhule and Dumle Maol from parading themselves or interfering with the activities of Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The court also warned against the use of thugs and police officers to forcefully gain access to the Assembly Complex.
Fubara and his estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike, Federal Capital Territory Minister, have been embroiled in a supremacy battle over who controls Rivers State.
The House of Assembly has since become a battle ground for the war with the lawmakers split into pro-Fubara and pro-Wike camps.
- This is a breaking story. Details shortly…
