The political turmoil in Rivers State escalated on Wednesday as approximately 10 bulldozers entered the premises of the state House of Assembly, initiating the demolition of the complex. Simultaneously, the factional Speaker, Edison Ehie, led a session with other lawmakers aligned with the governor just before the commencement of the demolition.
During the session, Ehie asserted that the complex required repairs due to the explosion that occurred on October 30, 2023. He assured that the governor would provide an alternative venue for legislative activities in the interim. The demolition operation is being executed under stringent security measures.
In a Wednesday morning statement, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, clarified that the decision to demolish the facility stemmed from its unsuitability for legislative purposes following a fire incident in October.
The reported fire incident unfolded amid alleged attempts by certain lawmakers to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Suspected arsonists reportedly threw an explosive into the complex, resulting in a fire that damaged the building.
According to Johnson, “The Rivers State Government says the decision to demolish and rebuild the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex was due to the structural defects which arose mainly as a result of the recent explosion and fire incident which rendered the main building unfit for human use.”