Rivers State Government has explained that it demolished the State House of Assembly complex on Wednesday due to the structural defects following the fire incident which engulfed the main building two months ago.
The assembly complex was set ablaze on October 29 in the wake of impeachment plot against the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, by members of the House loyal to the immediate-past governor of the state and now minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Explaining the government’s decision to bring down the entire assembly complex, a statement issued by the commissioner for information, Joseph Johnson, on Wednesday said that after Fubara’s visit 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 facility.
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He noted that explosive dynamites were used to attack the complex, which shook it to its foundation, adding that 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”, the commissioner said, noting 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 stated.
