WHY I DEMOLISHED THE TWO HOTELS – WIKE

WHY I DEMOLISHED THE TWO HOTELS – WIKE

“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.
“We are not saying it will be forever. This is for now so that we know where we are. 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 the PDP, SDP or no party, you must obey the law. If any other person does the same thing, the same rule will apply.
“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.
“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.
“Nobody wants to obey any rules. We are saying just for now, keep off, let us see how we can keep our people safe.
“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.
“People should help us and support the Government for Rivers people to be safe. The 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. ”
Governor Wike reiterated his declaration that no hotel should operate anywhere in the state, adding that the Managing Director of the hotel at Onne has been arrested.

ME: Nothing above justifies the demolition of business premises without the due process of the law. The executive orders does not give powers to the governor to punish offenders arbitrarily without the due process of the law. The pronouncement of the Governor outside of the content of the executive order cannot be the law. Wike did not say the executive orders gave him arbitrarily powers to demolish the premises of offenders. He simply says he, himself decided and told everyone that offending property will be demolished. This is arrogating to himself the powers of a maximum ruler.
The crew of the aircraft that flew into PH were taken to court and were not simply sent to jail on the directive of Wike. The rule of law appears to have been set aside in the demolition of the hotels. The Governor means well and should be supported by all but not in the application of whims.