By Jimitota Onoyume
PORT HAR-COURT— Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has ordered the revocation of the Certificate of Occupancy of Novotel, a popular hotel in Port Harcourt, saying that the place had become a notorious spot where elections are rigged.
Nyesom Wike
The governor spoke, yesterday, against the backdrop of Saturday’s non-elective congress of All Progressives Congress, APC, where members of the party had to relocate to the hotel to allegedly stop some officials of the party with fake results of the congress from getting out.
Governor Wike, at the third synod of the Anglican Diocese of Evo said, that the hotel had allowed its premises to be used for alleged manipulation of electoral processes, adding that it was at the same hotel that some results for last December 10 re-run elections were cooked up.
He said: “We cannot allow hotels to be used for unwholesome activities. The Special Adviser on Lands has been directed to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy of Novotel. Any business that is used to affect the security of Rivers State will face the music.
“Nobody will allow rigging in 2019. In 2019, it is one man, one vote. I appeal to APC to allow internal democracy to take place.”
Wike urged the church to raise credible leaders for the state, stressing that such effort would translate into developments.
He said: “In Anambra and Imo states, the Catholic Church plays key role in who leads those states. In Rivers State, the Church should rise up and take a position. If someone comes up tomorrow and has no relationship with the Church, the Church will suffer. Rivers State is a Christian State, the Church must play a role.”
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