Rivers Assembly demolition is ‘rape’ on legislative history – Alabo

The Amaewhule-led faction has condemned the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex.

The authorities demolished the complex on Wednesday morning after declaring that it had failed an integrity test due to the explosion in October.

In an interview with Channels Television, George Alabo, spokesperson for the Amaewhule group, expressed shock and dismay over the demolition.

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Alabo described the demolition as a “rape of the history” of the state’s legislature, accusing the government of erasing the historical records of the Assembly by destroying documents and archives.

“Our archives, our legislative department, our legal department, our library, all our records, the entire history of the House of Assembly—have just been brought down in one fell swoop,” Alabo said.

The 32-member assembly has been engulfed in turmoil since October, with two rival factions vying for control. The crisis stemmed from a rift between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

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On one side is Martin Amaewhule, believed to be loyal to Wike, and on the other is Edison Ehie, aligned with Fubara.

The rift has led to chaotic events, including attempts to impeach the governor and the speaker.

On Tuesday, a High Court in Port Harcourt confirmed Ehie as the legitimate speaker. The court also restrained Wike’s supporters from accessing the Assembly complex until renovation ordered by the state government was completed.

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Alabo questioned the legitimacy of the court order restraining the Amaewhule group, suggesting that it encouraged the government to proceed with the demolition. He also confirmed that the group had filed a petition with the National Judicial Council (NJC) against Justice Monina Danagogo, who issued the order.

Alabo stated that the group will convene to discuss their next move, but the shock and anger surrounding the demolition make predicting their actions difficult.