In a significant development, the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex is currently underway. The complex, which was ravaged by fire on October 29, 2023, is being demolished by a team of over 10 caterpillars.
The fire incident had sparked controversy, with twenty-seven out of the 32 state lawmakers accusing Speaker Edison Ehie and three other lawmakers of being responsible for the inferno. Consequently, Ehie and the three others were suspended from the Assembly on October 30, 2023.
However, in a subsequent sitting, Ehie emerged as the factional Speaker of the House and suspended Martins Amaewhule, along with other lawmakers whose names were not disclosed.
Adding to the complexities, on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt declared Ehie as the legitimate Speaker of the House, further intensifying the crisis.
The ongoing demolition of the State Assembly complex is seen as a manifestation of the deep-seated dispute between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Suitable Headline: “Rivers State Government Commences Demolition of State Assembly Complex Amidst Intra-Assembly Rift”
