The demolition of two hotels by the state government for flouting COVID-19 rules have generated a heated backlash on Governor Nyesom Wike.
According to the Rivers government, the hotels were demolished for flouting government’s directive on the closure of hotels as part of efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Reports have if that a human rights lawyer slammed the move as despotic and accused the Governor of arrogating onto himself powers he did not have.
The demolished hotels are the Prudent Hotel, Alode, in Eleme and Etemeteh hotel in Onne .
The Governor had on May 5, 2020, charged government recognised traditional rulers to set up Task Force in their respective communities to enforce the closure of markets, hotels and beer parlours across the State.
Also, on May 7, while inaugurating the State COVID-19 local government Task Force, Wike urged them to identify hotels still operating during the lockdown and erring beer parlours for demolition.
The Executive Order 6, is said to have banned the operation of hotels across the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.
Eye witnesses claimed 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.
But residents in the State have criticized the governor’s action, describing it as impunity and worse than the military regime.
