By Thompson agu, abuja
As the members of the Imo State House of Assembly are at daggers-drawn, with some forces said to be enjoying Executive backing in the Legislature over the building of a multi-million naira 13-storey hotel building near Heroes’ Square Complex on Concorde Road, Owerri, a fresh scandal is rocking the State Legislature with the Speaker, Rt Hon Ben Uwajumogu alleged to have converted a government property to a hotel premises.
Our Abuja correspondent who has been monitoring developments at the Imo State Liaison office complex, in Abuja disclosed that the building has witnessed tremendous transformation leading to its conversion from office rooms to a full fledged hotel.
The Buildings known as “Sam Mbakwe House” which had hitherto served people of the state in Abuja, has now turned to a private hotel being run by Speaker Uwajumogu through a registered Company.
Trumpeta learnt that in the spirit of privatization and revitalization of existing government property, the Okorocha administration considered the building a waste which prompted the Speaker, a notable hotelier and businessman to undertake the task of transforming it to a hotel.
It was further gathered that the process of converting it started several months ago but to the chagrin of Imolites, advertisements and notices for would-be private operators were not announced or made public for interested bidders, as the take-over formalities between the parties involved were shrouded in secrecy and conducted without public knowledge.
A recent visit to the complex revealed that the place is wearing a new look with state-of-the art facilities and appliances fixed in the rooms for the comfort of guests and customers. While LCD television sets and standard air-conditioners have been installed, it was further gathered that the management has been put in place to run the Liaison office turned to hotel.
The Speaker who is alleged to be involved in the new hotel structure our correspondent learnt, lodged his guests and family members who thronged Abuja for the elder sister, Chidinma’s birthday, at the new hotel. The Speaker was said to have sunk in money ruining into several millions to put the place in order.
Trumpeta investigations further revealed that Uwajumogu may have used surrogates to get the facility on lease from the Imo State Government for a hotel in view of the fact that he is associated with hospitality industry, having had two hotels already, one located in Umuahia, Abia State Capital and Owerri Imo state respectively.
It would be recalled that since the inception of the present administration in Imo state, state government property and institutions have been entrusted into private operators under privatization and commercialization agenda. First to go was Adapalm, baptized Roche Imo Palm which was handed over to Roche Group, as well as Concorde Hotel, that is also under another private operator. Others said to be in the hands of private investors are the General Hospitals and the State Water Cooperation.
When contacted, the Speaker’s Spokesman, Mr Emeka Ahaneku denied that Uwajumogu was involved with the Imo Liaison Hotel Abuja. Mr Ahaneku promised to give Trumpeta more clarification on the allegation, but never did until the Newspaper went to bed.
