From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Government said the decision to demolish and rebuild the 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.
State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Joseph Johnson disclosed this in a statement he issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Johnson said after the visit of the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, 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.
He said: “It would be recalled that on the night of the attack on the complex explosive dynamites were used to attack the complex which shook it to foundation.
“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.”
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.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications added that, 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.
Meanwhile, the four aggrieved members of the Assembly loyal to the governor said they have declared the seats of the 27 lawmakers that defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) vacant by the new speaker of the House, Edison Ehie.
You would recall that Edison Ehie was recognised as speaker on Tuesday, by a High Court of Rivers State in Port Harcourt.
Mr. Adolphus Timothy Orubienimigha, member representing Opobo/Nkoro State Constituency, has been elected as new the Leader of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly at its sitting on Wednesday at the temporary Assembly complex in Government House, Port Harcourt.