TELL Magazine

The Chairman of Eleme Local Government, Philip Okparaji, on Sunday said the victims of Sunday’s demolition of hotels in the area by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, should take responsibility for their loss.

Prodest Hotel and Edemete Hotel in Alode and Onne were demolished on the orders of Wike for allegedly violating the order he made for the closure of business premises in the state.

In his reaction to the operation of the task force on the enforcement of business closure in the area, Hon. Okparaji said all those who flouted the directive to close shop in the local government area would be made to face the law.

But Okparaji expressed appreciation to “the vast majority of Eleme residents and business operators” for complying with the directives of the State Government and temporarily closing markets, hotels, and drinking palours to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the LGA.

The chairman maintained that firm directives were issued to all Hoteliers, Operators of Bars and Drinking Parlours in Eleme LGA to temporally close shop or risk closure, arrest and demolition by the government’s Special Task Force set up to monitor and enforce compliance to the closure order made to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Okparaji thanked the governor for the strict measures he has put in place to check the spread of the virus in the state and expressed confidence in the protective ability of God to fight and shield the people of Eleme LGA from Covid-19.