Wike’s self-styled COVID-19 war is a rascality taken too far- Okumgba

▪Chides Gov. Wike Over Hotels Demolition and Infringement of Citizens’ Rights

Deluge of criticisms and reactions have continued to trail Governor Wike’s Sunday demolition of two hotels in Eleme LGA and sundry actions taken under the guise of stamping out coronavirus in Rivers State.

The latest reaction is coming from a chieftain and South-South Zonal Secretary of All Progressive Congress APC, Mr David Okumgba, who described the governor’s action as a crass display of military bravado, brazen show of administrative rascality and egregious abuse of power.

The governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike, had in a commando fashion, akin to action-packed Nollywood scenes, ordered his Task Force to illegally demolish Prudent and Etemeteh Hotels located in Eleme LGA in Rivers State claiming an aberration to an Executive Order 006 enacted by himself. Calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria and civil society organisations to intervene before the state slides into a state of anarchy, the party scribe bemoaned the draconian and despotic approach of Mr Wike to a pandemic that has globally been acknowledged to be stemmed through scientific measures.

David Okumgba emphatically condemned the use of brute force against citizens of the state by the governor and members of his taskforce.

He argued that Rivers people were traumatized enough by the rising scourge of the virus and further psychological torments from the governor are unwarranted and uncalled for.

Responding to this ugly development from his country home last night, he said: “It is completely sad and worrisome that Mr. Wike, who prides himself to be a lawyer, does not understand the regulations and provisions of the Quarantine Act, wherefrom he erroneously draws his bogus Executive Order. His gross display of power drunkenness and penchant for human rights abuses in recent times call for urgent mental evaluation.

“When has demolition of private property become a panacea to the pandemic under the act and beyond this, does the law not provide for a fair hearing before an offender is proclaimed guilty? Can he make available the court order obtained to carry out the demolition of these hotels?”

He advised the governor to apply caution and decorum in enforcing orders and borrow a leaf from the governors of Lagos, Cross River and others who are fighting the lethal virus and still providing physical and emotional security for their people.

“Wike’s defiance of not taking advice or considering rational logic, even amongst his political family is having a negative toll on the enviable image of our dear state. I advise him to retrace his directionless footsteps and compare notes with the likes of Govs. Sanwo-Olu, Ayade and other counterparts who are making impressive progress in the battle to end the coronavirus contagion”, he added.

While pleading with the State Government to maximize the use of the testing equipment donated by Shell and Total E&P within the two (2) day period of lockdown relaxation, Okumgba urged Governor Wike to carry out phasal collection of samples from residents of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt LGAs, especially in flashpoint areas like Rumuomasi, with a view to identifying carriers for early treatments and fumigation of markets, schools and other public places as the lockdown directive subsists thereafter.

David Okumgba also appealed to security agencies to continue to give optimal security cover to businesses all through the lockdown period, in order to secure the economic fortunes of the citizenry now and after the scourge.

He further charged them to allow chemists, hospitals, other pharmaceutical and health personnel on essential duties unhindered movement to ensure that no further loss of lives are recorded and enjoined party faithfuls and other Nigerians to obey the laid down health guidelines approved by the National Centre for Disease Control NCDC and sister agencies by staying at home except on essential duties, use of face masks, abiding to the social distancing order amongst other precautions to aid in the quick extermination of the contagion.

“I plead with people to exercise restraint and comply with the sacrificial conditions of NCDC and urge our security officers to carry on their duty of enforcement but with a human face.

“The complaints of unnecessary molestation and overzealousness by some bad eggs in the system are sabotaging the good works of the new police commissioner”, he concluded.