Rivers Govt gives reasons for demolishing Assembly Complex: “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.”
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Rivers State government has said it took a decision to demolish and rebuild the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex following the structural defects caused by the recent explosion and fire incident which rendered the main building unfit for human use.
A statement issued by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Joseph 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 advice the government on the integrity of the building.
The Commissioner said on the night of the attack on the complex, the dynamites caused an explosion that shook the foundation of the building.
“There were visible cracks on the walls afterwards, and the entire structure looked frail and unsafe for legislative business”, the statement said
He added: “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.”
READ ALSO: Rivers Govt demolishes House of Assembly complex
Johnson noted 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”, he said.
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.