Wike must be prosecuted for illegal hotel demolition – Tam-George

A former Commissioner for information in Rivers State, Austin Tam George has called on the International community to prosecute governor Nwesom Wike of Rivers State for illegally demolishing two hotels.

According to him, the demolishing violates the human rights provisions as prescribed in the Constitution.

Daily Times reported that two hotels in the Eleme community of Rivers State were demolished by a team led by the Governor of the State, Mr Nyesom Wike.

According to a statement by the State Government, the hotels had violated an Executive Order, banning the operation of hotels in the State until further notice.

However, Tam-George said the principle of fair hearing was not applied by the governor during the demolition process

“No formal charges were brought against the affected hotels before a court of law, by the Rivers State Government. The owners of the hotels had no opportunity to defend themselves before a Judge. And the so-called Executive Order itself is spurious, draconian and ill-defined.

“But the illegal demolition of the hotels yesterday fits into a long and sickening pattern of lawlessness and impunity by Governor Wike in Rivers State,” he said

The former Commissioner further alleged that Governor Wike had shut down and revoked the Certificate of Occupancy of Novotel Hotel in Port Harcourt, simply because critics of his lawless regime had lodged overnight at the hotel,” he added.

Speaking further, Tam-George called on the United Nations Human Rights Commission to urgently investigate and initiate criminal proceedings against govenor Nyesom Wike in Rivers State.

He further appeal to the United States Congress and the State Department to “Urgently initiate and maintain consequential pressure, including visa restrictions and asset freezes against Mr Wike, for his reign of impunity in Rivers State,”