In another reversal of his predecessor’s decision, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has canceled the revocation of a property owned by former military governor, General Anthony Stephen Ukpo (Rtd).
The property in question, Ogeyi Place Hotels, formerly Le Meridien Hotels Limited, is located at Plot 319, GRA Phase II, Port Harcourt.
The land was initially revoked by the immediate past administration led by former Governor Nyesom Wike.
However, the Fubara administration announced the cancellation of the revocation in a newspaper publication, citing that the original revocation was “made in error”.
The decision came amidst a backdrop of recent political tensions and realignments in Rivers State.
In December 2022, an unconfirmed letter purportedly issued by the Wike-led government to Ogeyi Place Hotels Limited indicated that the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of the hotel was revoked for alleged default on ground rent payment.
At the time, Opunabo Inko Taria, former Media Adviser to Governor Wike, criticised the action, suggesting it was a punitive measure against the hotel for hosting a meeting of supporters of Atiku Abubakar, the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate.
The revocation was seen by some as part of Wike’s political maneuvering ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
Wike, despite being a PDP member, supported Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress candidate who eventually won the election.
Wike was a key figure in the G5, a group of then-PDP governors who were at odds with the party’s presidential candidate and leadership.
After Tinubu’s victory, Wike was appointed as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, a move widely seen as a reward for his support during the election.
Meanwhile, NewsNGR reports that Fubara’s cancellation of the property revocation is not the only reversal of Wike’s decisions by the current administration.
Recently, Fubara also canceled the 10,000 jobs in the State Civil Service approved by Wike, citing flaws and compromises in the recruitment process.