By ephraim onwukwe
Even as the dust raised by the purported sale of Concorde Hotel, Owerri to an interested bidder is yet to settle, another disturbing scenario about the flagrant handing-over of Imo government property and outfits to private investors has reared its ugly head again.
This time, the capacity seater and events place resuscitated by Okorocha government may have been given away for 35 years to another private management.
It would be recalled that while multi-million naira down stream sector Adapalm palm plantation and oil mill has been sold to Roche company and renamed Roche Imo Palm for 30 years, the Parliamentary Quarters and Concorde Hotels were reportedly given to Messrs Akano and co and ABM company respectively for similar purpose and number of years.
Coming at the heels of recent denials by the state governors’ media aide that Concorde hotel is intact, a major scandal has been sold to a private operator simply identified as Quest Resources outfit, for a period of 35 years.
This exposure came to public knowledge recently when the ad hoc committee of the Imo State House of Assembly led by Deputy Speaker, Donatus Ozoemena visited the controversial 13-storey building said to be a new hotel within the Heroes’ Square Complex.
Our correspondent who visited the Heroes’ Square complex after the House members visit to authenticate and verify the true owner and identity of the upcoming 13-Story Hotel building, also stumbled into the revelation.
Efforts to reach the members of the ad hoc committee for confirmation, proved abortive as calls put through to their mobile phones were not attended to.
However, Trumpeta learnt that the lawmaker who may be startled by the revelation and lease arrangement without confirmation or approval from the legislative arm have ordered “stop work” and summoned management, of the new Heroes Square complex to report to the state Assembly for proper verification and inquiry. The discovery it was further gathered has also unsettled the lawmakers who may not muster the courage to confront the Executive arm on the matter. The discovery is causing friction in Imo State House of Assembly as members using the rosy relationship between the two arms do not want to spill the beans. Before the resumed sitting on Tuesday, our Assembly correspondent observed that the issue may have kept the members for several hours at the Executive session before entering the chamber for the plenary session.
As at the time of going to press, a meeting of all Lawmakers was scheduled for the Speaker’s place to possibly deliberate on how to tackle the matter for amicable resolution. A visit to the complex, gave further insight on the deal of change of management. Workers at the scene said that the lawmakers are embarking on wasteful venture by attempting to verify the authentic owners of the structure as the firm they are working for has secured a deal with the state Government to manage the Heroes Square Complex for 35 years.
Trumpeta was told by the workers at the complex who preferred anonymity that apart from getting the consent to take over the place for 35 years, erecting the hotel will complement the bargain entered into for the operation. The source further added that since there is agreement to this effect which has been handed over to the state lawmakers during the visit to the Heroes Square, the Imo Assembly is on a wild goose chase attempting to scuttle the arrangement. Despite the lame and insignificant explanations offered by the media department of the Governor to cover up the sale of Concord, Okorocha’s spokesperson failed to react on the lease it granted to ABM Global Limited, which signed a 20 year-lease management agreement with the Imo State government, owners of the 30 year-old five star hotel who in turn sub-leased the hotel management to South Africa-based Silverstar Hospitality.
Irrespective of who is the operators, Imo people would want to know the value of the transactions, cost implications of the transactions and processes of the change of ownership and management of Adapalm, Parliamentary Quarters, Concorde Hotel, Abuja liaison office and lately Heroes Square.
