Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has overturned the revocation of a property owned by former military governor, General Anthony Stephen Ukpo (Rtd).

Recall that General Ukpo is an ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The property, Ogeyi Place Hotels (formerly Le Meridien Hotels Limited), located in GRA Phase II, Port Harcourt, had its Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) revoked by the previous administration led by Governor Nyesom Wike.

The Fubara administration announced the cancellation of the revocation in a newspaper publication, citing that the original decision was “made in error”.

This development comes amidst political tensions and realignments in Rivers State.

In December 2022, the Wike-led government revoked the C of O, allegedly due to default on ground rent payment. However, Opunabo Inko Taria, former Media Adviser to Governor Wike, criticized the action as a punishment against the hotel for hosting a meeting of Atiku Abubakar’s supporters.

It can be recalled that Wike, a PDP member, supported Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress candidate who won the election.

Wike was appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory after Tinubu’s victory.

Prior to the election, Wike contested the PDP Presidential primary but lost out to Atiku.