Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said the demolition of Bayelsa State Government property in Port Harcourt was not politically motivated.

Recall that Rivers and Bayelsa states have been at loggerheads over the demolition of the property. Bayelsa also flayed the kicking of Bayelsa workers out of the property located at Akassa Street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt.

Bayelsa State Commissioner for Land and Housing, Andrew Edua, had, before the demolition,  stated that the issues between the states would be amicably resolved. He recalled that governors of the state discussed in 2021 when Rivers first served Bayelsa notice for immediate renovation  of property.

But Wike,  who spoke at Port Harcourt International Airport on arrival from  Europe,  yesterday, blamed alleged leadership failure on the part of Bayelsa State for the demolition. 

Wike, in a statemen by his Special Assistant on  Media, Kelvin  Ebiri, explained that in line with the Rivers’ urban renewal programme, a formal letter was written to Bayelsa in August 2021 concerning its dilapidated property inherited from the Old Rivers State in Port Harcourt.

“It is most unfortunate, when you have leadership failure, that is what you get.  I have never seen a hostile government against Rivers State government like Bayelsa State Government. It’s most unfortunate. When I was away, I read in the media the ranting by the Bayelsa State Government through the Commissioner for Lands.” 

Wike said he met a number of times with his Bayelsa counterpart, Governor Douye Diri, and enjoined him to renovate or build a benefitting edifice on the parcel of land because the formal existing structure contravened Rivers’ urban renewal policy.

MEANWHILE, the administration of the  Rivers  State Governor-elect, Similanayi Fubara, will partner the Federal Government to create a viable and vibrate economy, that will improve the lives of residents. This was disclosed by the Governorship Inauguaration Committee.

The committee also said the incoming governor would use his expertise as a financial manager to bear bring about sound financial management that will  revamp the state public sector.

This was disclosed, yesterday, in Port Harcourt by the  Chairman of Media and Publicity Sub-Committee of the inauguration committee, Chris Finebone, and the alternate Chair, Ibim Semenitari.

The duo, while responding to questions by newsmen,  explained that Fubara’s administration will focused on creating economically viable Rivers State.

They disclosed that there would be collaboration between the state and Federal Government, especially in the area of maritime economy, saying that the incoming government will take the advantage of the seaports in the state to develop and grow the state economy.
   
“There have been specific pronouncements with regard to trying to encourage economic activities at the seaport. We are going to liase with the Federal Government to ensure the growth of the economy, though the seaport are exclusively on the Federal Government list,  but what the incoming governor has said is that there will be much of collaboration between the state and the Federal Government to ensure a more economically viable state,” they stated.