Outrage As Governor Wike Demolishes Two Hotels For Violating COVID-19 Lockdown
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike supervised the demolition of two hotels in the state for violating the lockdown order put in place by the state government to curb the spread of coronavirus.
For destroying people’s property, Wike has come under heavy criticism from different quarters.
Prudent Hotel in Eleme, and Etemeteh Hotel in Onne, were on Sunday pulled down on the orders of Governor Wike for allegedly violating his lockdown directives.
Speaking with newsmen on Sunday afternoon, Governor Wike who personally supervised the demolition, said the action was taken because the operators of the hotels flouted an Executive Order on COVID 19, despite warnings from the State government.
Wike said his action was in line with the Rivers State Government Executive Order 6, which banned the operation of hotels across the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.
However, his action has been condemned and described as unconstitutional, despotic and a gross abuse of power, by Nigerians on social media.
Welcome to Rivers State where 1 man ( Wike ) makes the law, interpretes it and enforces it beneath the cheers of an army of uninformed and unemployed youths.
This governor is a member of the body of benchers, a body that is supposed to regulate the legal profession in Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/zu7fTOoDJv
— Daminabo🇳🇬 (@DaminaboEric) May 10, 2020
Guys, Wike is not "Overdoing". Its not "gra-gra"
He's abusing his office. What he's doing is literally illegal and inhuman.
Call it as it is.— Emecheta's Buchi, *Uncle Chief (@buchionyegbule) May 10, 2020
BREAKING: We condemn the reported demolition of Prodest Hotel by Gov Wike, Rivers State.
Using COVID-19 to perpetrate human rights violations is executive rascality & Mr Wike must stop this now.
We’re taking legal action to hold him & his govt. to account for illegal actions.
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) May 10, 2020
Wike has shown a preview on how tyrants can misuse the Infectious Disease Control Bill.
They will arbitrarily destroy people's properties. Most of our Political leaders are tyrants, we should never give them room whatsoever to flex their muscles.
— fred4U (@frediecruze) May 10, 2020
I hope the energy Governor Wike is using to enforce the lock down, he is also using it to increase testing and isolation centre capacity in Rivers state.
Fighting this virus is not about being performative but being readily effective.— Leo Dasilva (@SirLeoBDasilva) May 10, 2020
I condemned in strong terms Sunday’s demolition of two hotels in Rivers State by Governor Nyesom Wike over alleged violation of an Executive Order. I have long observed the dictatorial tendencies of Wike in his latest action as wicked, insensitive, irresponsible and unlawful.
— Dakuku Peterside (@PetersideDakuku) May 10, 2020
It would be recalled that Governor Wike had also directed security operatives to transfer some people who were found on the streets when they were not on essential duty to isolation centres in the state and some cars ceased as well.
The governor also ordered the seizure of some trucks which defied the lockdown directive by conveying livestock into the state. He directed that the trucks and the cattle seized be auctioned.
