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…As Atiku Commiserates With Rivers Government
By Joel Anekwe
The controversy surrounding the collapse of the 7-storey building in Port Harcourt Rivers State claimed its first official casualty Wednesday with the stepping aside of the commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Dr Reason Onya, to “allow for unfettered investigation into the circumstances of the collapsed building.”
This is as the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has commiserated with the people of the state over the collapse of the building.
The state government on Wednesday announced the stepping aside of the commissioner, saying it was to allow for comprehensive investigation into the collapse of the 7-storey building in Port Harcourt.
The state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike had during a visit at the weekend declared that no official or individual connected with the collapsed building would escape government sanction. The ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is responsible for approval and inspection of building constructions and physical development.
Addressing journalists after the state executive council meeting, Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Barrister Emma Okah said that the resolution was to ensure unfettered investigations.
He said that the investigation into the collapse of the 7-storey building will be carried out by the judicial commission of inquiry to be established by the state government
The information and communication commissioner noted that the governor commiserated with the families that have lost their loved ones and directed that adequate care be extended to all those rescued alive.
He noted that the state government will continue with the ongoing rescue mission at the site of the collapsed 7-storey building.
During a visit to Government House Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the former vice president, who was represented by his wife, Mrs Jennifer Atiku Abubakar, said he was pained by the tragedy.
He called on the state governor to take actions that will ensure that there will be no recurrence of the tragedy.
“It is not enough to jail the owner of the building. It is time we begin to look at how we build our houses.
“We have to work on agencies that regulate the construction of buildings and ensure that they do their work properly,” he said.
He commended the Rivers State governor for preliminary actions taken by the government.
The PDP presidential candidate called on the state government to compensate the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
Mrs Abubakar was accompanied on the visit by the wife of the PDP vice presidential candidate, Mrs Margaret Peter Obi and the wife of the PDP national chairman, Mrs Ene Secondus.
Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike commended the PDP presidential candidate for being the first to commiserate with the state during her period of grief.
The governor regretted that the APC Federal Government has been unable to condole with the government and people of Rivers State because of politics.
Governor Wike assured that the state government will enforce the outcome of the processes of the commission of inquiry to investigate the building collapse. He said that his administration will deal decisively with culprits to serve as a deterrent to others in the building sector.
