Prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State staged a solidarity protest on Sunday at the House of Assembly quarters in Port Harcourt, rejecting purported plans by the state government to demolish the complex.
Among the notable APC members present were Desmond Akawor, Kingsley Chindah, Olaka Nwogu, and Chief Tony Okocha. The protesters expressed concern over reports of an impending demolition of the assembly quarters.
The protesters were received by Hon. Martins Amaewhule, Speaker of the Assembly faction loyal to Governor Nyesom Wike.
Amaewhule alleged a grand plot by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to demolish the structures, likening it to the previous demolition of the House of Assembly Complex.
He stated, “Your visit is unusual visit. It shows that the good people of the state are concerned about what is happening. This facility is the facility of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“We have also brought in experts, engineers and there is nothing wrong with these structures. They are fully in use and fully functional. All the experts confirmed to us that this building is one of the best in the entire West Africa.
“This complex was constructed by the former Governor, Nyesom Wike and inaugurated in August 2022 by the current chief of staff to Mr. President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila. We are happy with the building and everything is working well.
“We didn’t write to the governor and we didn’t invite him. We didn’t ask for his help because we don’t need it. We don’t need his intervention in any way. Any attempt to talk about reconstruction or demolition is clearly an assault on democracy and an assault on members resident in these buildings.
“The Rivers State Government is not the office of the governor. It comprises the legislature, executive and the judiciary. The governor has no right to claim it as his personal property. It is the property of the Rivers State House of Assembly. So without an invitation to the governor, he has no right to break into our property.”
Asserting that the complex was in excellent condition and fully functional, Amaewhule emphasized that the estate belonged to the Rivers State House of Assembly and criticized any attempts by the governor to intervene.
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, echoed concerns over the alleged threat to the democratic institution, affirming that expert assessments indicated the structures could last for over 25 years.
He observed that the complex built by Wike about two years ago remained the best in Africa and was better than the National legislative quarters.
He said: “Let me salute the speaker and members of the House. The assembly complex that was brought down some leaders of the state went to USA to get that design. When it was built, it was the best state assembly in this country. That structure is nowhere today.”
“However, as members of the National Assembly from Rivers State, we have joined the leaders and elders of the state to discuss the issues happenings in our state the latest being the threat to bring down the structures in this premises.
“We have commissioned engineers and experts to study and give us the report of the integrity of these structures. We have received the report. And the report says these structures have a lifespan of nothing less than 25 year.
“We have on our own come out to physically inspect the structures to crosscheck it with the report we received and these structures are still strong and healthy. Our apartments in the National Assembly are not better than what we have seen here.
“We should be proud that our state assembly occupies this quarters. It is easier to destroy than to build. The one we have destroyed have we made any move to rebuild it? Let us know that public officers should be living examples in the society both in character and in conduct. Let us also caution that you must govern in line with the rule of law.
“We want to advise the governor to bridle a little bit at exuberance that we had seen within this period. It doesn’t portend well to our state”.
Chinda said the National Assembly was observing and monitoring the situation in Rivers and would soon take a decision in the collective interest of the state.
He said: “We members of the National Assembly have not spoken. We have observed. But we cannot continue to fold our hands and watch our state fly. We are coming out and we will take position without looking at anybody.
“It will be a position that will be in the interests of the state. No one individual is larger than Rivers State. We are members, leaders and elders of Rivers and this state we must protect”.
In his remarks, Igo Aguma, a former member of the House of Representatives, said the Justice Omotosho’s judgement indicted the governor of willful destruction of the assembly complex, alleging that Fubara committed a criminal offence.
He said: “I want to remind the governor that the same Justice Omotosho judgement had found that he willfully brought down institution of the Parliament in the Rivers State House of Assembly by demolishing it.
“He willfully did it in order to prevent them from sitting. That is malicious damage to public property. It is a criminal offence. The red biro will run dry one day and you will be made to answer. It has not been appealed against. I want to also let him know that Rivers people will muster all democratic institutions in the world to defend democracy in Rivers.
“We will not run away. We will fight him back. Democracy is the best form of government and we will have democracy in Rivers. He should take pity on the governed and to remember that Rivers State House of Assembly has made itself financially autonomous.”
A former Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Ikuinyi Ibani, said their assessment had shown that there was nothing wrong with the structures and called on the governor to jettison any plan to tamper with quarters.
He warned that governor should desist from any action that could trigger violence, saying Fubara must at all times promote law and order in the state
Former House of Representatives member Igo Aguma accused Governor Fubara of willfully destroying the assembly complex, describing it as a criminal offense. Aguma pledged to mobilize democratic institutions to defend democracy in Rivers State.
Former Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Ikuinyi Ibani, cautioned against actions that could incite violence and urged the governor to uphold law and order.
Senator Olaka Nwogu emphasized that democracy was upheld by the people and the constitution, warning against further assaults on hallowed chambers.
APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, commended leaders and elders for defending democracy, asserting the unity of Rivers people. Okocha alleged that Governor Fubara’s claims of supporting Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu were unfounded.
