By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Business outlets owned by political opponents of the former Governor, Nyesom Wike, which were sealed at the heat of pre-election politics on the orders of Wike have been reopened.
The Petrol station owned by former federal lawmaker, Chinyere Igwe, sealed by the security attached to Government House due to political disagreement, has been reopened for business.
It has been observed that the the Police vans stationed at the sealed Petrol station had left the premises 10 months after it was sealed.
Wike had accused the former lawmaker of engaging in illegal oil bunkering which the former lawmaker denied.
Igwe had described the action of Wike’s administration of merely witch-hunting him for supporting and teaming up with the likes Hon. Austin Opara, former Deputy Speaker House of Representatives in support of Atiku Abubakar.
The former lawmaker, representing Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 2, was an ally of Atiku, who had a running political battle with Wike.
The Petrol Station, which is located at Adelabu-Ojoto Street, Mile 2 Diobu Axis of Port Harcourt, has been unsealed and is operating without hindrance.
Also, policemen said to be attached to Government House security had also unsealed Priscy’s Lounge at Elekahia in Port Harcourt.
The said Lounge is owned by Hon Jones Ogbonda. Preray Hotel, Eagle Island owned by Ikechi Chinda, who is the former PDP Chairman in Port Harcourt was also unsealed.
All the three business owners are associates of Austin Opara.
Wike had on the midnight of August 18, 2022, ordered the shutdown of the Petrol/Gas station and the arrest of the owner.
Austin Opara, Dr Abiye Sekibo, Senator Thompson Sekibo, Senator Lee Maeba, Chief Uche Secondus, Chinyere Igwe, Celestine Omehia and others were at loggerheads with Wike over their support for Atiku.
Although the Rivers Police Command and the state government were yet to speak on the reopening of businesses owned by the political opponents of Wike, however, observers of Rivers politics are interpreting the latest development as a fence mending moves by Fubara to heal the wounds of the past.
