A renowned political scholar and activist, Dr Uche Igwe has described the governor of Rivers state as “a hypocritical leader who has an addiction for tyranny.”

Dr Igwe made the comment while reacting to reports making round in the media about how Governor Wike lifted the ban on COVID-19 lockdown just for the inauguration of the new executives of his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The event which held at Obi Wali cultural centre has been criticised by many observers especially as pictures emerging from it shows that the rules of social distancing were ignored.

In a statement sent to journalists on Thursday, May 14, Dr Igwe said: “I am shocked that Governor Wike lifted this ban for selfish political reasons. He definitely does not care about who is infected by COVID-19 as far as his political objectives are met.

“It is clear that he prefers to be the governor of PDP, not Rivers state. He has demonstrated his preference for politics rather than the health and wellbeing of the people.

“Nothing can be more dubilitious and lunasome especially when you see how this same man terrorized innocent citizens in the last few days in the name of enforcing the lockdown.

“Wike is a personification of tyranny and brigandage every lover of democracy must condemn him.”

Dr Igwe had earlier condemned the Rivers governor for demolishing two hotels in the state for flouting his lockdown directives.

In a statement sent to journalists on Tuesday, May 12, Dr Igwe described the governor as an election rigger who is behaving like a bull in a China shop.

He further called on the Rivers people to resist the governor, who he described as a tyrant.

Meanwhile, a total of 25 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have expressed outrage over the recent demolition of two hotels by Governor Nyesom Wike for flouting the lockdown directives of the Rivers state government.

The CSOs in a statement on Wednesday, May 13, described Governor Wike's action as “an act of impunity, assault on rule of law and setback to civilisation.”

The CSOs include notable civil rights movement like the African Centre for Media & Information Literacy, Socio-economic Rights Action Project, Legal Defence & Assistance Project, Democracy and Human Rights Network among others.