The governor, who spoke after the inspection of the collapsed two-storey building, through the Commissioner for Special Projects, Chukwuemeka Woke charged the relevant government agencies to immediately question those involved in the project to bring anyone culpable to book.
He said: “The Ministry of Urban Development is to take immediate action by conducting site investigations, and site inspections, destructive testing and non-destructive testing of collapsed structural element to establish their strength by the determination of the yield strength of the reinforcements and sieve analysis of the soil at the site, to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the building collapse.
“If there is any compromise by those involved in the project, they will be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.”
A statement by the governor’s media aide, Boniface Onyedi, said the governor, while sympathising with the four injured men, visited them at the hospital. The doctors treating the injured, the statement said, also assured the governor that the injured would be discharged in a few days as they were already in stable condition.
He said the government has urgently mobilised earth-moving equipment to the site to evacuate the debris of the collapsed building, as the site has been cordoned off.
In another development, Governor Fubara has charged clerics in the state to caution herdsmen against harassing residents, killing farmers, and damaging crops in the state.
He gave the charge when he received the leadership of the Muslim Community, who paid him Eid al-Adha’s visit yesterday at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Sir Fubara explained that the purpose of his administration was to remain firm in protecting the lives and property of everyone, which has made it possible for them to celebrate in a peaceful atmosphere and therefore, must not truncate creating a better Rivers State for all residents.
The governor pointed out that his administration could not be protecting their businesses while some errant members of their fold would be destroying the businesses and livelihoods of others.
He warned that if such persists, his administration would be compelled to wield the big stick and bring perpetrators to justice.
Governor Fubara said: “The Local Government Areas are complaining. So, I expect results in a couple of weeks by calling these people who practice open grazing to order in Ikwerre, Etche, Ahoada East, Ahoada West and parts of Emohua Local Government Areas. They shouldn’t be harassing the people and should stop killing them on their farms.”
Sir Fubara assured of keeping the channel of communication between him and the Muslim community open because they are critical stakeholders in governance and should enjoy the benefit of the prevailing peace to do their business and worship without molestation.
In his address, the leader of the delegation, and Vice President-General of Rivers State Council of Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Nasir Awhelebe Uhor, assured that the Muslim community would not be involved in using religion to destabilise the state, pledging support for the policy and programmes of Sir Fubara’s administration.
