CITIZENS COMPASS —The crisis in Rivers State assumed another dimension early on Wednesday when the state government demolished the state legislative chamber.
The Assembly complex comprising about six buildings, including the main chamber, was built during the administration of Dr Peter Odili.
Justifying the demolition, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, in a statement on Wednesday, said the place was unsafe for human habitation because of the recent explosion and fire incident there.
The demolition of the chamber came as the four lawmakers loyal to the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, led by factional Speaker, Edison Ehie, held a plenary at the Government House, Port Harcourt, while the demolition was ongoing.
On Monday, 27 members of the House elected on the Peoples Democratic Party platform defected to the All Progressives Congress and threatened to reject any request by the governor for approval.
This was as Governor Siminalayi Fubara presented the N800bn 2024 Budget estimates to the Edison Ehie-led group at the Government House.
Ehie and Martins Amaewhule have been embroiled in a Speakership tussle which is in court.
The Budget presentation was held at a hall in the Government House, apparently, due to the “renovation” work at the state assembly complex which started Wednesday morning.
Present at the budget presentation were members of the House loyal to Ehie. None of the members who recently moved from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was in attendance.
