Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, has emphasized that the recent demolition of two homes owned by the Bayelsa State Government in Port Harcourt was not motivated by politics.
According to reports, the Bayelsa State Government criticized the destruction and expressed worry about it through Commissioner for Lands and Housing Andrew Esua.
Esua emphasized the long-standing goodwill between the two sister republics and thought that a peaceful solution to the problem was possible.
In the early hours of Thursday, Governor Wike addressed the crowd at the Port Harcourt International Airport after arriving from an overseas trip.
He stated that the demolition was a part of the urban renewal strategy of his administration, citing earlier instances in which houses belonging to other states, notably Edo State, had also been demolished following consultation with the respective governors at the time.
Governor Wike highlighted the recipients of his urban redevelopment strategy by naming well-known people and institutions including Mr. Mike Adenuga, the Nigeria Railway Corporation, and Nigeria Airways. Despite the various interpretations of his behavior, he adamantly maintained that he owed no remorse.
Governor Wike indicated that the sites that would be demolished would be used to build more judicial housing in Rivers State.
He emphasized that it is up to the government to decide how the state will develop and expressed dissatisfaction that Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri had broken his pledge to renovate the homes. In addition to the unfulfilled obligations made in front of Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, Governor Wike noted Governor Diri’s fruitless attempts to obtain additional time from the Rivers State Government.
Governor Wike supported the demolition action, accusing Bayelsa State of acting hostilely toward Rivers State in past situations involving jointly held buildings.
According to information provided to this newspaper, the buildings at 5 and 9 Akassa Street in Port Harcourt’s Old GRA neighborhood once served as housing for employees of the Bayelsa State Government Liaison Office.
