Panic as Rivers govt demolishes structures around AIT/Raypower premises

AIT RAYPOWER Port Harcourt

Right: Ruins of demolished properties inside the premises of AIT/ Raypower in Ozuoba community, Obio-Akpor local government area of Port Harcourt of Rivers State

By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Workers of AIT/Raypower in Port Harcourt were thrown into panic on Friday as Rivers government embarked on demolition of structures around the expansive premises of the radio/television outfits at Ozuoba area of the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state capital.

However, structures housing the radio and television station have not been touched by the roaring bulldozers of the Rivers State government as at Friday evening.

Recall that Rivers State Government had last week given a 48-hour quit notice to Daar Communication, owners of AIT and Raypower media houses with indication that its expansive properties in the area will be demolished at the end of the deadline.

The government said the area had been mapped out for GRA Phase 5, Ozuoba.

Consequently, the State government had stationed bulldozers around the AIT/Raypower premises last Friday, March 24.

But on Friday, the bulldozer started with the demolition of makeshift shops around the premises leaving out the properties housing AIT/Raypower media outfits.

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The land on which AIT and Raypower television/radio Station built its station has been a subject of dispute between Rivers State government and Daar Communications Plc for sometimes now.

Some analysts had linked the dispute to the lingering political feud between Governor Nyesom Wike and properietor of Daar Communications, Raymond Dokpesi who is ardent supporter of Atiku Abubakar, the PDP Presidential Candidate.

But Wike has dismissed the insinuation, as he maintained that DAAR Communications has no document to back its claim of ownership of large expanse of land it is occupying in Ozuba community.

He therefore insisted that the eviction notice and planned demolition has no political motive.

However, DAAR Communications has also dragged the Rivers State Government to court to stop the demolition.

The suit is slated for hearing on April 6,2023.

It is therefore not clear if the demolition of the AIT/Raypower will go on despite the pending court case.

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