Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has commenced the construction of seven units of five-bedroom buildings for Judges of Rivers State Judiciary at the Akassa Street Old GRA. The flats were initially owned by Bayelsa State Government, but were recently demolished by Wike’s administration. Governor Wike clarified that the relationship between Rivers and Bayelsa remained cordial, despite the demolition.
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His Excellencies Nyesom Wike and Douye Diri
He explained that the project was part of his administration’s urban renewal programme, aimed at ridding the area of criminal elements who used the once-abandoned Bayelsa property as a hideout.
“This is the second phase of residence of Judges of Rivers State Judiciary. It is important to let the public know where we are. This place used to be Bayelsa State Government property when it was created out of Rivers State,” he said.
Wike further explained that the whole of Old GRA was given to Julius Berger Nigeria PLC to do all the roads and drainages as part of the urban renewal programme.
He recalled that he had written to Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, in August 2021, to inform him about the dilapidated nature of the property and that it served as a hideout for suspected criminals.
Despite continued engagement between the two governors, no expected response was received, and Wike’s administration was compelled to acquire the property under public policy.
He emphasized that it was impossible to allow the dilapidated property to remain, and it was destroyed to ensure a clean and safe environment.
Governor Wike stressed that he had nothing against Bayelsa State or Bayelsa people, but every government must show leadership.
He also highlighted that his administration had embarked on building hostels and an auditorium at the Yenagoa campus of the Nigerian Law School, as a testament to the existing cordial relationship between the two states.
“Nobody forced me to go and intervene when intervened in school (in Yenagoa). I spent not less than N5.3B. If we have anything against Bayelsa State, we would not have even tried to help in rebuilding the law school.
“When Bayelsa State government was inaugurating their Medical University, Rivers State government was invited, on that Saturday, I was there and Rivers State government donated N500m.
“And on Monday the Bayelsa State government acknowledged receipt of the money. We are playing brotherly and sisterly role which is what it is supposed to be”, he said
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