An absolutely shocked Ralph Uwazuruike, founder of MASSOB, has heaped curses on Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State for demolishing two hotels in the Eleme and Onne areas of the state. Wike personally oversaw the demolition of the Eleme Hotel. The two hotels had, according to Wike, ran foul of his order closing down hotels, restaurants and all such places to curtail the spread of COVID-19, and so, Wike’s Executive Order 6.
He had earlier threatened to do so and, on Sunday, made good his threat.
But the Governor’s action has drawn shock and outrage across the country, with many Nigerians saying that Wike has crossed the red line.
Dr Otive Igbuzor, a Human Rights Activist, former Commissioner on the Police Service Commission, and the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Senate President, called Wike’s action ‘wicked’ . And so have other people including lawyers who accuse Wike of dictatorship and a constant breach of the Constitution of the Federal Republic.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, asked Rivers people to stand up to every recklessness, lawlessness and arbitrariness in the state. Another lawyer, Jite Ogunye said Wike’s action was alien to law. Said he: ” Recklessness is no courage, and brashness is no strength”
But in a recorded post, Uwazuruike asked Rivers people to rise in anger against Wike, adding that Wike has crossed every borderline. Calling Wike many unprintable names, Uwazuruike asked: “Is Wike the only Governor in Nigeria”? Uwazuruike also recalled the confisication and auctioning of trucks and cows by Wike.
Uwazuruike said only in Rivers State can “such nonsense” be condoned, calling out the people to a civil disobedience so as to trigger a declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
But the Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project, SERAP, has announced that it will take legal actions against Governor Wike over the demolition of two hotels on Sunday.
The group made this known in its official Twitter account on Sunday.
SERAP accused the governor of using COVID-19 to perpetrate human right violation.
It tweeted: “We condemn the reported demolition of Prodest Hotel by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. Using COVID-19 to perpetrate human rights violations is executive rascality and Mr Wike must stop this now.
“We’re taking legal action to hold him and his government to account for the illegal actions.
“The demolition of Prodest Hotel is forced evictions and in violation of article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party.”
Late Sunday, after the demolition of the hotels, Wike lifted the 24-hour total lockdown he placed on PH and Obio/Akpor LGAs. He said the people could go out on Tuesday and Wednesday in order to re-stock, emphasising that the total lockdown would resume on Thursday.
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