The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has presented a N800 billion 2024 budget estimates to barely 5-member State House of Assembly at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the State Capital. Edison EhieEhie served as the factional Speaker at the presentation today, December 13.
This came just as the House of Assembly complex was being demolished ostensibly to enable the rebuilding and renovation of the complex. About six bulldozers had driven into the premises of the Assembly complex and started the demolition under a tight security.
The demolition is coming about two months after fire gutted the complex and 72 hours after the 27 lawmakers loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyeson Wike, defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The 27 members of the 32-member legislature are said to be loyal also to a factional Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, an ally of Wike.
In October, the Assembly under Amaewhule had served an impeachment notice on Fubara and removed Mr Edison EhieEhie as the House Leader.
In retaliation, some lawmakers loyal to Fubara immediately impeached Amaewhule and “elected” EhieEhie the new Speaker.
A Rivers High Court sitting in Port Harcourt subsequently restrained the Amaewhule-led group from forcefully gaining access into the assembly complex, pending the hearing of the suit before it.
Earlier today, EhieEhie had led lawmakers loyal to the governor to hold a sitting before the demolition began.
The factional speaker had during the session said the complex was due for repairs following the explosion that rocked it on October 30, 2023.
He said that the governor would provide an alternative building for them to sit for their legislative businesses pending the reconstruction of the complex.
Source: Persecond online.
