COVID-19: Why I Demolished Two Hotels -Wike Reveals

Prudent Hotel, Alode, Eleme and Etemeteh Hotel, which was demolished yesterday for allegedly disobeying  Governor Nyesome Wikes’s directive on the closure of hotels in the State has generated several reactions.

Naija News recalls that Wike monitored the demolition of Prodest Hotel, Alode, Eleme in Eleme Local Government Area of the state. Many Nigerians have described the act by the rivers state government as wicked and cruel while others said the governor could have sought for other measures of punishment like total lockdown of the two hotels.

COVID-19: RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT DEMOLISHES TWO HOTELS FOR FLOUTING EXECUTIVE ORDER 6 https://t.co/FhZr5mxdeZ pic.twitter.com/SELbVslhNY

— Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (@GovWike) May 10, 2020

However, in a reaction and defense of his government-led action on the demolition of the two hotels, Wike said the hotels were demolished after it violated an Executive Order on COVID 19, despite warnings from the State government.

He said: “Apart from using the facility (hotel) to jeopardize lives of citizens in violation of the extant law, the owner audaciously unleashed thugs led by Eleme LG Youth Leader of PDP and inflicted severe injuries on our task-force members who went to enforce the law against continued operation of the hotel.

“As we speak, nobody knows the fate of most of the victims of that brazen and deadly attack given the severity of head injuries they sustained.

“And so, we’ve done no wrong as all our actions were taken in good faith and justified by, under and within the purview of the Executive Orders, which have neither been challenged nor set aside by any competent court of law.”

“While we welcome genuine criticisms towards strengthening our intervention measures, no use joining issues with uninformed critics and social media legal practitioners, who, blinded and prodded by sheer politics, bias and hatred, have opted to demonize and paint our lawful and responsible actions in bad light.

“Granted that we may not have totally achieved our targets, but we are convinced that, so far, the lockdown and the other measures have impacted greatly in containing and preventing the onslaught of the pandemic on Rivers.”

Meanwhile, Promise Gogorodari, the owner of one of the hotels destroyed by the Rivers State government has spoken out insisted he broke no law that warrants the demolition of his property. He also noted the government did not give him a fair hearing and said no investigation was carried out before the demolition of his property.

He further lamented that the state government’s action is a negative development in the state which has resulted in job losses and capable of eroding investor confidence in the state.