ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Former President Goodluck Jonathan has criticised the persistent habit among governors of abandoning projects initiated by their predecessors, describing it as a major cause of waste and inefficiency in governance across Nigeria.
Jonathan expressed his displeasure on Wednesday during the commissioning of the Best Western Plus Hotel in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The former president lamented that several developmental projects he began while serving as governor of Bayelsa before becoming Vice President in 2007 were left incomplete or abandoned by successive administrations.
He said, “As the first elected deputy governor of Bayelsa State, the governor then, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, started hosting African Movie Awards ceremonies that people from America, South Africa and others were coming; actors and actresses.
“It was a world event. You know all these celebrities they live a sort of fantastic life, and in the first edition hosted, most of the external guests stayed in Port Harcourt because there was no hotel that you could see in Bayelsa State.
“The idea of a state encouraging tourism is for tourists to spend their foreign money in the state to stimulate the local economy. So if the state spends on a programme that brings people from all over the world and the money is instead spent in other states, that is a negative investment.”
Jonathan explained that his administration had awarded contracts for the construction of a five-star Tower Hotel and two three-star hotels to boost accommodation and promote tourism in Bayelsa.
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He noted that the completion of those projects would have transformed Yenagoa into a key destination for investors and visitors.
He said, “So when I took over as the governor, then there were some small, small hotels in Yenagoa. I said we cannot build a three-star hotel overnight, let us give some little money for our hotels to improve, but they were supposed to pay back, and we gave money up to N10, N15 million to a number of people, but because I left, nobody returned any money to anybody.
“So when we wanted to host again, we quickly awarded contracts to build three hotels, the Tower Hotel and two three-star hotels. If they had done these three hotels, by now, visitors coming to Bayelsa State would have had a comfortable place to stay, but somehow, when I left, even people I mobilised, we didn’t see what they had done.
“That is the problem of government when a governor leaves, the next governor doesn’t want to follow up, and most of that money spent will go.”
Also speaking at the event, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, commended the owner of the Best Western Plus Hotel, Dr. Harcourt Adukeh, for his foresight and contribution to the state’s economic growth.
He described the new hotel as a transformative addition to Bayelsa’s hospitality and tourism landscape, capable of generating jobs and attracting local and foreign investment.
Governor Diri urged Bayelsans to emulate such private-sector initiatives by investing in their communities to accelerate the state’s development.
Similarly, the hotel’s founder, Dr. Harcourt Adukeh, and its Executive Director, Mrs. Initeme Aduke-Eromhonsele, described the facility as a modern blend of elegance and comfort, offering scenic views of the Oxbow Lake and a serene atmosphere for visitors.
The Best Western Plus Hotel, which is affiliated with the globally recognised Best Western brand, marks another milestone in Yenagoa’s evolution as a destination for tourism, business, and luxury hospitality in the Niger Delta.