The Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of Le Meridien Hotel, Portharcourt has been revoked by Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike over a political meeting linked to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar that was held in the facility.
The revocation is the latest onslaught by the aggrieved governor against those backing Atiku Abubakar in Rivers.
It was gathered that the revocation was causing disquiet, particularly as the State government said, the title of ownership of the popular hotel was withdrawn on alleged non-payment of ground fees over a period of years.
Wike has been championing campaign against Atiku with four other governors and promises to down PDP, if the National Chairman of my party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu was not removed from office.
However, an ex-Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Opunabo Inko-Tariah countered reasons adduced by the authority for revocation C of O of Le Meridien Hotel, saying that it was as a result of a meeting in the hotel by associates of Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate that sparked the revocation.
“There was no crisis, politicians met and there was nothing untoward. So, on what ground are you going to revoke the C of O? it is rationally inexplicable.
“Simply because these are people that are loyal to Atiku and you want to frustrate the campaign of Atiku and that was why you went ahead to revoke that C of O,” Inko-Tariah said on Tuesday.
The ex-aide said the Executive Order prohibiting political meetings in hotels and public places without approval was a guise to frustrate Atiku’s campaign in Rivers.
“You know I had warned earlier that these laws are going to be prescriptions for anarchy because there is a limit to which anyone can take such madness. You push a man to the wall it bounces back.
“Now, some people went and destroyed Magnus Abe’s property (SDP Campaign Office) and of course there was a retaliation, they also went and destroyed PDP property. What do you expect?”
