Why We Demolished Rivers Assembly Complex – Govt
… Fubara Presents 2024 Budget To 5 Lawmakers At Govt House
… Congratulate Wike @ 56
…FG has no involvement in Rivers crisis, says minister
The Rivers State Government had defended its decision to demolish and rebuild the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex, saying it is due to the structural defects which arose mainly from the recent explosion.
He said the fire incident rendered the main building unfit for human use.
A statement issued by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Mr Joseph Johnson on Wednesday, 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.
Dynamites had been reportedly used to attack the complex, leading to visible cracks on the walls afterwards.
“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.
“The government had tried all cost saving measures towards repair of the complex untill it bowed to superior view of rebuilding the complex to a more befitting edifice,” Johnson stated.
He said that the state government had provided an alternative venue for the House of Assembly to conduct their affairs pending the rebuilding of the complex.
FG has no involvement in Rivers crisis, says minister
Mohammed Idris, the minister of information and national orientation, says the federal government is not involved in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers state.
On Monday, 27 lawmakers in the Rivers house of assembly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Subsequently, Edison Ehie, speaker of the assembly, in an undisclosed location, with only lawmakers loyal to Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers, in attendance, declared the seats of the defectors vacant.
Speaking after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting held at the presidential villa in Abuja on Wednesday, the minister said the federal government is not partisan in its assessment of the political situation in the state.
He said though Nyesom Wike, the immediate past governor of the state and the current minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), is involved in the crisis, the government remains neutral in the matter.
“Well, he is a federal cabinet member; he is involved in the situation in the state. That cannot be a federal government position. How can it be the federal government’s position?” he asked.
“The federal government is always interested in the well-being of all the states, and in that direction, the federal government will always align with everyone in Nigeria to make sure that there is peace and tranquillity in all parts of this country.
“But you know that what has happened in Rivers is not a creation of the federal government. It is a political problem that is brewing in the state.
“Of course, the government will ensure that there is peace and stability for all Nigerians, including River state, but you can’t say that this is a creation of the federal government. The federal government never had any hand in creating that problem.”
