Two hotels: Prudent Hotel, Alode in Eleme, and Etemeteh Hotel in Onne, were on Sunday demolished by the Rivers State Government for flouting the Executive Order on the Coronavirus Disease in the state.
The Executive Order, pronounced by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, had barred all hotels in the state from operating during the COVID-19 containment bid.
Wike, who supervised the demolition of the hotels amid his monitoring compliance with the lockdown order of the state, said the Executive Order must be obeyed, hence the decision to punish those who flout it though they are members of his party, Peoples Democratic Party.
He said: “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 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, 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 rule.
“We are saying just for now, keep off, let us see how we can keep our people safe.”
Wike said the focus on hotels was because one of the cases in the state spread the virus from a hotel.
He said: “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 government for Rivers people to be safe.
“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.
“People talk about hunger.
“But it is only a living person that can discuss hunger.
“We will continue to work to protect our people.
“What we are doing is to tell the people that the state government is serious.
“This, being led by me, people should know that the state government is determined to ensure that we defeat coronavirus.”
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