Source: http://www.suanusblog.com/2017/08/revocation-of-c-of-o-business-hostility.html?m=1


A former Commissioner of Information under the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike who resigned few months ago, Dr.Austin Tam-George has referred to the recent revocation of the Certificate of Occupancy of Novotel Hotel in the state as an indication of hostility towards businesses in the state. Dr.George stated this in a post on His Official Facebook Page.
Gov.Wike had on Sunday announced the revocation of the certificate of occupancy of the hotel in a church service in PortHarcourt, the state capital. Wike accused the hotel of being a notorious venue for actualising rigging plots of the opposition All Progressives Congress in the state.

Dr.Tam George's post is as below;

"The revocation of the certificate of occupancy of Novotel Hotel in Port Harcourt over the weekend by Governor Nyesom Wike disappoints and saddens me.
If a business premises is suspected or established to be a crime scene, the police, acting on a court order, could move in to take control.
It is extraordinary for a State government to revoke the certificate of occupancy of a business, simply because opposition politicians lodged there.

Politicians in the state might think this is part of politics.
But it is a hostile signal to the business and investment community that Rivers State is a toxic environment, and that a 99-year land lease could be withdrawn impulsively at any minute, by the governor.
As Commissioner for Information in Rivers State, i held 41 media events, including world press conferences and television appearances, to make the case for the state as Nigeria's best investment destination.
Even now, the Wike administration is running an expensive advertorial on CNN, inviting foreign direct investment into Rivers State.
The whimsical attack on Novotel feeds the noxious narrative that Rivers State is a risky place to invest. It is a direct kick in the face of the administration's own efforts to attract investors to the state, in order to create jobs.
As governor of Rivers State, Mr Rotimi Amaechi made similar wrong-headed and extreme decisions.
I urge governor Wike to avoid taking the same intemperate path, in the interest of the State."

Recall that some APC Members and supporters of Sen.Magnus Abe had stormed the hotel premises over rumours that the national convention committee officials sent to conduct the delegate elections in the state were perfecting the rigging of the election from their luxury hotel rooms.

Naso mumu dey start.