Tobias Sylvester
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has come under heavy after he demolished two hotels in the state for violating a lockdown order put in place by the state government to curb the spread of coronavirus.
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
— Buhari's Sister 🇳🇬 (@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 #Yellow (@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
If you’re close to Wike, tell him he’s moving mad.
If you’re close to his wife, the judge, tell her that her husband is moving mad and illegally.
There no defence or justification for some of the things he’s doing, and I am being extremely diplomatic because he’s ‘one of us’.
— Ose Anenih (@ose_anenih) 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
You don't cut off the throat of your child cos he disobeyed you. This is wickedness. Wike should have imposed a fine after sealing off the hotel! pic.twitter.com/AiI2kn84vO
— iyke d iyke (@iyke_nwabuko) May 10, 2020
The demolition of the hotel was unnecessary. Temporary closure would have been enough. Wike is over doing it. Those their property was demolished should seek legal redress.
— Comrade Deji Adeyanju (@adeyanjudeji) May 10, 2020
If you really think Wike is doing all these because he deeply cares for the people of Rivers State, you are joking. All I see a man who is power drunk.
— Babanla (@biolakazeem) May 10, 2020
I don't get it. Where does Gov Wike derive his powers to demolish hotels for lockdown violation? His is incipient madness. Nothing in S.5 (2) CFRN 1999 & S.8 Quarantine Act gives him such powers to assault citizens right under S.44 CFRN 1999. Nothing.
— Great Oracle (@AbdulMahmud01) May 10, 2020
Wike is demolishing hotels and you're applauding him, lol.
But when pple say Nigerians deserve their leaders, you get angry.Just remember that tyranny has no boundaries within the law.
The dictator you embolden today will oppress tomorrow.
E sure die.— Adunni Achebe (@_Adadioramma) May 10, 2020
In as much as I don’t support Wike’s demolition of that hotel, but why are Nigerians so stubborn and disobedient? They are just so difficult to handle. If you don’t follow them with iron hand you would barely achieve results. It’s terrible how some Nigerians behave. Sigh!
— Sally Suleiman (@is_salsu) 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
Let’s be fair, Gov Wike has been doing great since the beginning of the lockdown but demolishing a hotel because they violated the lockdown rule is way too harsh. Imagine putting someone out of business at this point.
— DREYLO. (@RealDreylo) May 10, 2020
What Wike is doing in Rivers, is what we expected Buhari to do when he was first elected in 2015; clean up the system, instill discipline and enforce all laws without fear or favor. Wike is helping Rivers people obey the laws. You may not like his style but Nigerians are lawless!
— Jackson Ude (@jacksonpbn) May 10, 2020
Bruh Wike destroyed hotels for opening… Omo that’s real ganster😂
— Dʀɪᴢᴢʏ (@drizzyposhh_) May 10, 2020
Governor Wike is a tyrant cloned in a Democrat's garb.
— Henry Shield (@henryshield) May 10, 2020
KanyiDaily recalls that Governor Wike had also directed security operatives to transfer some persons to isolation centres in the state. They were found on the streets when they were not on essential duty.
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.
