Demolished Bayelsa building sites for judges’ quarters, says Wike

The judges quarters is springing up on Akasa Street, Old GRA, where the Rivers State government recently demolished structures belonging to the Bayelsa State.

But Wike said the relationship between his state and Beyelsa remains cordial.

At the foundation laying of the project yesterday, Wike explained that with the dilapidated property owned by the Bayelsa State government demolished, his administration considered it use the land as residential quarters for judges.

The governor said the project was being implemented under the Rivers’ urban renewal programme to rid the area of criminal elements, who used abandoned Bayelsa property as hideout.

He said: “This is the second phase of residence of judges of the 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.

“As part of urban renewal, we gave the whole of Old GRA to Julius Berger Nigeria PLC to do all the roads and drainages.”

Wike recalled how he wrote to Governor Douye Diri in August 2021 to inform him about the derelict nature of the property and that they served as hideout for suspected criminals.

The engagement between them, he said, continued without yielding the expected responses and his administration was compelled to acquire the property under public policy.

He said: “Even when we attended our governors meeting, I called his attention to it, saying there is no way we can allow this kind of property to be here.

“It is either you renovate it, which will not cost more than two or three hundred million or you sell it to the Rivers State government to be able to rebuild the place, so that we know those who are staying here. In 2022, I reminded him again.”

Wike said it became impossible to allow the dilapidated property to remain, so it was destroyed to ensure that the intended clean and safe environment was achieved.

The governor said: “And to tell Bayélsa people, I have nothing against Bayelsa State or Bayelsa people. But every government must be serious and show leadership.”

Wike emphasised that it was because of the existing cordial relationship that his administration embarked on building hostels and auditorium at the Yenagoa campus of the Nigerian Law School.

He said: “Nobody forced me to go and intervene when intervened in school (in Yenagoa). I spent not less than N5.3 billion. 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 N500 million.

“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.”

The Chief Justice of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi commended the Rivers State governor for his unparalleled support to the judiciary.

Giving a brief of the project, the Commissioner for Works, Dr. George-Kelly Dakorinama Alabo, said the second phase of the judges residential quarters consist of seven units of five bedroom bungalows, service rooms, boys quarters and other facilities that will provide comfort for the judicial officers.

The project has a five-month completion period.