Yesterday, the total lockdown in Obio-Akpor and PortHarcourt Local
Government Areas in Rivers State took on another dimension, as the state
governor, Nyesom Wike, personally monitored the demolition of two hotels in the
Eleme Council for allegedly flouting the state executive order.
Government Areas in Rivers State took on another dimension, as the state
governor, Nyesom Wike, personally monitored the demolition of two hotels in the
Eleme Council for allegedly flouting the state executive order.
The destroyed hotels are the Prudent Hotel, Alode
Hotel, Eleme Hotel and Etemeteh Hotel, Onne Hotel.
Hotel, Eleme Hotel and Etemeteh Hotel, Onne Hotel.
On 5 May 2020, the governor requested the
government to recognise traditional rulers and set up a task force in their
respective communities and enforce the closing of shops, hotels and beer
parlors throughout the state.
government to recognise traditional rulers and set up a task force in their
respective communities and enforce the closing of shops, hotels and beer
parlors throughout the state.
Also, on 7 May, during the inauguration of the
State COVID-19 Local Government Task Force, Wike urged them to recognize hotels
still in service after the lock-up and demolition of beer parlors.
State COVID-19 Local Government Task Force, Wike urged them to recognize hotels
still in service after the lock-up and demolition of beer parlors.
Wike said, “From tomorrow, move in. Any hotel that
is operating, identify it and we will bring down the hotels. I have the
political will. Those people who disobey will face the consequences.
is operating, identify it and we will bring down the hotels. I have the
political will. Those people who disobey will face the consequences.
However, on Saturday the governor announced the
names of the two hotels, declaring that they would be demolished for flouting
the State Government Executive Order 6 which is said to have banned the
operation of hotels across the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.
names of the two hotels, declaring that they would be demolished for flouting
the State Government Executive Order 6 which is said to have banned the
operation of hotels across the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.
Reporters gathered that the governor had driven
from Port Harcourt to Eleme with other convoys and monitored the demolitions of
the hotels from the beginning to the end. He told newsmen that the law must be
obeyed, hence the State Government’s decision to enforce it.
from Port Harcourt to Eleme with other convoys and monitored the demolitions of
the hotels from the beginning to the end. He told newsmen that the law must be
obeyed, hence the State Government’s decision to enforce it.
But the state’s citizens condemned the governor ‘s
behavior, describing it as tyranny and worse than the military dictatorship.
Many human rights advocates who have taken to social media have described it as
cruel, tragic developments in the state, adding that the hotel owners should
have been granted a fair hearing.
behavior, describing it as tyranny and worse than the military dictatorship.
Many human rights advocates who have taken to social media have described it as
cruel, tragic developments in the state, adding that the hotel owners should
have been granted a fair hearing.
One of the activists, Chinedu Uchegbu insisted that
it was wrong for the governor to act on hear-say, without concrete evidence
that the hotels operated during the lockdown. He maintained that the owners
would have been given the opportunity to speak.
it was wrong for the governor to act on hear-say, without concrete evidence
that the hotels operated during the lockdown. He maintained that the owners
would have been given the opportunity to speak.
Uchegbu said, “The announcement about the offence
was made on Saturday and by today (Sunday) under a window of 12 hours the
sanction has been executed.
was made on Saturday and by today (Sunday) under a window of 12 hours the
sanction has been executed.
If I may ask, who tried the offenders? Is
demolition the only punitive sanction? If the owners of the hotel were
operating in violation of the lock down, wouldn’t have been better to stage a
sting operation and catch them red handed so as to punish the culprits.
demolition the only punitive sanction? If the owners of the hotel were
operating in violation of the lock down, wouldn’t have been better to stage a
sting operation and catch them red handed so as to punish the culprits.
Later the same people will be mouthing gibberish about
people de-marketing the state. What can be worse for business than a state that
advertises scant regard to right to private property. It’s quite a pity that
people are not rising up to condemn this descent into utter absolutism.
people de-marketing the state. What can be worse for business than a state that
advertises scant regard to right to private property. It’s quite a pity that
people are not rising up to condemn this descent into utter absolutism.
However, addressing journalists after the
demolition, Wike said: “Government has no alternative but to apply the
Executive order which I signed before the lockdown of Obio/Akpor and Port
Harcourt. I called all the Traditional
demolition, Wike said: “Government has no alternative but to apply the
Executive order which I signed before the lockdown of Obio/Akpor and Port
Harcourt. I called all the Traditional
Rulers and Council Chairmen and told them to ensure
that no hotel operates in the State.
that no hotel operates in the State.
We are not saying it will be forever. This is for
now, so that we know where we are in order to reduce the cases and check the
spread.
now, so that we know where we are in order to reduce the cases and check the
spread.
Whether you are PDP or not, all we are saying is
that nobody is above the law. If we can do this to a PDP person, then you know
we are not discriminatory. Everyone must obey. Whether you are in PDP, SDP or
no party, you must obey the law. If any other person does the same thing, the
same rule will apply. “
that nobody is above the law. If we can do this to a PDP person, then you know
we are not discriminatory. Everyone must obey. Whether you are in PDP, SDP or
no party, you must obey the law. If any other person does the same thing, the
same rule will apply. “
Governor Wike reiterated his declaration that no
hotel should operate anywhere in the state.
hotel should operate anywhere in the state.
“We said no hotel should operate within this
period. Unfortunately, the PDP Youth Leader in Eleme joined others to flout the
Executive Order. Therefore, the executive order will be applied.
period. Unfortunately, the PDP Youth Leader in Eleme joined others to flout the
Executive Order. Therefore, the executive order will be applied.
“We said if any hotel operates, the Government will
bring down that hotel. We are doing what we have told people that we are going
to do.
bring down that hotel. We are doing what we have told people that we are going
to do.
“Nobody wants to obey any rules. We are saying just
for now, keep off, let us see how we can keep our people safe”, he said.
for now, keep off, let us see how we can keep our people safe”, he said.
The Governor said that the focus on hotels is due
to the fact that one of the cases in the state spread the virus from a hotel.
to the fact that one of the cases in the state spread the virus from a hotel.
He said: “Look at the rate of infections, most of
these people are found in hotels. Look at the man that died, he was at Mingi
Hotel in Rumumasi. Due to that contact, we have had other seven cases.
these people are found in hotels. Look at the man that died, he was at Mingi
Hotel in Rumumasi. Due to that contact, we have had other seven cases.
“People should help us and support Government for
Rivers people to be safe. Security Council will meet to review the strategies
and achievements or setbacks, moving forward.
Rivers people to be safe. Security Council will meet to review the strategies
and achievements or setbacks, moving forward.
“All we are doing is to protect our people. Some
people may not like our strategies, but our objective is to achieve results. “
people may not like our strategies, but our objective is to achieve results. “
He assured that the State Government will always
continue to protect the people. He said the fight against the spread of
coronavirus is serious, that is why he is leading it personally.
continue to protect the people. He said the fight against the spread of
coronavirus is serious, that is why he is leading it personally.
“People talk about hunger. But it is only a living
person that can discuss hunger. We will continue to work to protect our people.
person that can discuss hunger. We will continue to work to protect our people.
“What we are doing is to tell the people that the
State Government is serious. This being led by me, people should know that the
State Government is determined to ensure that we defeat coronavirus,” he said.
State Government is serious. This being led by me, people should know that the
State Government is determined to ensure that we defeat coronavirus,” he said.
He said that those involved in the crime will be prosecuted. He said the
Managing Director of the Onne Hotel had been arrested.
Managing Director of the Onne Hotel had been arrested.
Efforts to communicate with the operators of the
hotels proved unsuccessful, because their communications were not obtained at
the time this report was published.
hotels proved unsuccessful, because their communications were not obtained at
the time this report was published.
