Wike clamps down on hotels owned by opposition elements in Rivers, alleging criminal activities

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has clamped down on hotels owned by opposition politicians, alleging that the affected hotels have thrown their doors open for criminal activities.

Security agents on Friday sealed a hotel, bar and a filling station in Port Harcourt, while some people, including staff of the facilities were arrested

Wike had during a State broadcast alleged that some politicians were recruiting cultists and ex-convicts to cause mayhem ahead of 2023 general election.

The affected hotels which were sealed in the early hours of Friday are Preray Hotel at Eagle Island, Priscy’s Bar in Elekahia and Mega Tool Filling Station along Ojoto Street in the Diobu axis, all in the Rivers State capital.

The facilities belongs to the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Austin Okpara, who is a political rival of governor Nyesom Wike.

In a statement which was issued later on Friday by the Media Aide to the governor, Kelvin Ebiri, it explained that the State government was aware that owners of hotels and entertainment centres are in the process of giving out their premises to politicians and political parties as a convenient base for the gathering of “political thugs”.

Wike in the statement vowed not to allow any political party constitute threat to the citizens, stressing that all campaigns must be done with decorum without violence or mayhem.

“Accordingly, we have already alerted and set the security agencies on the trail of these misguided politicians and leaders of political parties and stop them in their tracks with the full weight of the law.”

The governor warned that the government will pull down hotels and other entertainment places that are linked with such criminal political activities.