The Abia State Government has dismissed what it described as false and misleading claims circulating on social media regarding the revocation of Abia Hotels Limited, Umuahia.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, made the clarification on Monday while briefing journalists at Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu stated that recent allegations made by Investment Guarantee Limited, the former investor in Abia Hotels Limited, were “false and misleading”.
He explained that the Government had fully compensated the co-investor, Barrister Randy Obinna Ukanwoke and had lawfully taken possession of the property adding that attempts to portray the Otti administration negatively were unfounded.
Responding to questions, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, reiterated that the revocation of Abia Hotels was carried out lawfully and urged the public to disregard narratives aimed at misleading them.
Mr Ekeoma said the investor violated “every single term contained in the agreement”, describing the breaches as an affront to the State Government.
He noted that despite the investor’s violations, the Government still opted for dialogue.
“There was a discussion. There was a negotiation. That negotiation was not done because he was right. But it was done because this is a Government that believes in empathy.
“The Government that has compassion. And like we did tell them, this Government has also treated other persons, other investors, whether real or genuine or not, like that. Because the Government doesn’t want to dwell in the past.
“The Government wants to move forward. The Government doesn’t want to say, okay, because you have changed the Government in the past, you enter into a funny agreement. We will deal with you.
“And like we told his wife the day the government officials went there, it’s only a government like that of Dr Alex Otti that will do what the State Government has done”, he stated.
Also speaking, the General Manager of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), Mr Kingsley Agomuo, revealed that the Government paid the investor ₦450 million in October as compensation and added that the property was sealed three weeks later.
Agomuo noted that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the investor was with the previous administration which the current Government had a copy of the document.
Agomuo noted that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the investor was with the previous administration which the current Government had a copy of the document.
“It’s quite clear that before you upgrade or develop any part of that structure, you should get approval clearly stated from relevant Government Agencies before you can now upgrade. That place was not a virgin land. There were facilities there.
“And that was when the Government at that time stated it clearly in that MOU, which he signed.
“That we will pay in one account unknown to Government. There were people that invested there.He kept telling them that there was no compensation.
“He did not even tell them that he has collected money. And he was even telling Government not to let people know the amount. Because he has decided to go to the media. So the public needs to know the truth”, Agomuo explained.
ment House, Umuahia, on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
