THE Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has commiserated with the government and people of Rivers State over the collapse of the 7-Storey building in Port Harcourt.
This is like the controversy surrounding the collapsed building Wednesday claimed first official casualty 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.
The former Vice President who was represented by his wife, Mrs Jennifer Atiku Abubakar during a visit to Government House Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said he was pained by the tragedy.
He called on the Rivers 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.
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“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 already taken by the State Government.
The PDP Presidential Candidate called on the State Government to compensate the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
The Representative of the PDP Presidential Candidate 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.
Responding, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike commended the PDP Presidential Candidate for being the first to commiserate with the state during her period of grief.
“You are the first to condole with us publicly and empathise with us over this tragedy. We are happy that you have come over to identify with us,” he said.
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.
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 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 added 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 Rivers State Government .
The Information and Communication Commissioner noted that the Rivers State Governor commiserated with the families that have lost their loved ones and directed that adequate care is 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.
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