The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is being torn apart by a leadership crisis, and Governor Nyesom Wike has ordered the destruction of the Bayelsa state government’s property.
On April 19, Wike issued an eviction notice for the property in the Old GRA, Port Harcourt, through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands and Survey of the Rivers State government, Alozie Nwala.
The state government’s urban redevelopment project, according to Nwala, signed the eviction notice on the property at 5 and 9 Akassa Street, Golf Course Extension Layout, Port Harcourt.
“That in contravention of the covenants and conditions contained in the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) issued to Bayelsa State Government in respect of Plots 34 & 35 (5 Akassa Street and Plot 37 (9 Akassa Street ) Golf Course Extension Layout, Port Harcourt, notice is hereby given by the Rivers State Government that occupants of the said property should vacate.
“Take notice that occupants of the mentioned properties are given 14 days from the date of this notice to vacate buildings thereon.
“The said buildings not only constituting public nuisance but also defacing Rivers Government’s Urban Renewal Infrastructural Development Policies as relates to the Golf Course Old GRA Layout.
“Take further notice that at expiration of this notice, Rivers State Government will take possession of the properties”, the notice on the 12-flat property read.
But the staff of the Bayelsa State government accused Wike of bypassing appropriate channels to carry out any remedy he wishes and not embark on immediate eviction and demolition moves.
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The Head, Protocol for the Bayelsa State Government, Smith Noah, who spoke to journalists, explained that, “Some people came to paste a notice that we are causing nuisance and defacing the environment. So the Rivers State Government is giving us 14 days to pack out.
“We are not staying here on our own. We are Bayelsa State government workers. We were thinking that if there is anything that the Rivers State Government wants to do with us, we have an office here and the Rivers State Government knows the office,” he said.
He added that, “Ordinarily they would have served the Bayelsa State government if there is any reason for us to vacate this place.
“Unfortunately, a few days ago, we heard information that they are coming to demolish this place. So, we informed our superior and they said we should wait until they have already served the Rivers State Government with a court order.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) I was assigned to do a job at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. On my way my neighbour called that more than 50 vans came to vacate us.
“When I came back the officials said they were giving us till this morning (Thursday) to park out.
“I have been here for five years now. But you can see we are removing our things instead of somebody to come and destroy our property.
“Bayelsa was created out of Rivers. So if Rivers has any good intention for Bayelsa, the right thing to do is settle with our Governor (Douye Diri) and not give us occupants this punishment,” he said.
Also speaking, another occupant, Bridget Allison, told journalists that, “People that came here yesterday said the Rivers Government is coming to demolish this place.
“Even to pack out from this place now we need money because we don’t have anywhere to go.
“I am a staff of the Bayelsa State Government and have been living here for almost 11 years now. You know things are so difficult now. Let the Bayelsa State Government come to our aid,” he said.
The Rivers State Governor has been waging ‘war’ against alleged rivals who backed Atiku Abubakar against him as the party’s presidential nominee, along with some PDP members who are members of the G-5.
Remember that Raymond Dokpesi, an ardent supporter of Atiku, has been engaged in a protracted dispute with the governor over the latter’s decision to order the destruction of the property on which he owned the state’s AIT and FM station.
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