Commercial sex workers at Pedro Hotel, Azikiwe Street, Mile 2 in Port Harcourt City Local Government of Rivers State yesterday protested plan by the manager to force them to attend a vigil.
The Nation learnt the women became angry with the manager when he insisted that every occupant must participate in the vigil, or else her room would be locked.
The manager, who did not mention his name, said he once postponed the date of the vigil, to accommodate the sex workers’ view, adding that he would not postpone it again.
He said the vigil was in the interest of the women, stressing that anybody who failed to attend it would be sanctioned.
When our reporter asked the receptionist the essence of the vigil, she said nobody supported it.
The receptionist said a pastor convinced the manager that holding a vigil at the brothel would enable it enjoy God’s blessings and increase its prosperity.
She said the sex workers opposed the vigil, adding that a person cannot be forced to worship God.
One of the sex workers, Rose, said they told the manager that they will not attend the vigil because their work will not permit them.
She said they are not against the vigil because they worship God and attend vigil when it is suitable for them.
Rose said: The manager is just wasting his time. We will see what will happen tonight (last night). We are here for business and not for religion. By tomorrow (today), we will pay our rent because we pay him every Friday.
“We pay our rent from the money we make from our customers. If we attend the vigil, will he allow us to stay in our rooms without paying? Are we going to leave our customers, who have already paid for daybreak, in our rooms? This is not possible. We will not attend the vigil.”