Jonathan decries abandonment of projects by leaders

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has lamented the poor culture of continuity in governance at the state level, saying that many governors abandon projects initiated by their predecessors despite being funded with public resources. Speaking on Wednesday during the commissioning of the Best Western Plus Hotel in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Jonathan said most of the projects […]

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has lamented the poor culture of continuity in governance at the state level, saying that many governors abandon projects initiated by their predecessors despite being funded with public resources.

Speaking on Wednesday during the commissioning of the Best Western Plus Hotel in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Jonathan said most of the projects he initiated as governor of the state were abandoned shortly after he became vice president to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

He recalled efforts during his tenure as governor to encourage private investment in the hospitality sector, aimed at making Yenagoa more attractive to tourists and business travellers.

Jonathan said, “As the first elected Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, I served under Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who began hosting African Movie Award ceremonies that attracted participants from America, South Africa, and other parts of the world. However, most of the visiting celebrities stayed in Port Harcourt because there were no standard hotels in Bayelsa.

“The idea of promoting tourism is for visitors to spend their foreign exchange within the state to stimulate the local economy. If the state spends money to attract tourists, only for the money to circulate elsewhere, that becomes a negative investment.

“When I became governor, we had a few small hotels, but none could meet three-star standards. So, we decided to support local hoteliers with loans of between N10 million and N15 million to upgrade their facilities, which they were expected to repay. Unfortunately, after I left office, no repayments were made, and the initiative was abandoned.

“We also awarded contracts for three hotels — the Tower Hotel and two three-star facilities — to boost hospitality in Yenagoa. Had these projects been completed, visitors to Bayelsa would have had comfortable accommodation. Sadly, when I left, nothing was done. That’s the problem with governance — when one governor leaves, the next refuses to continue the projects, and the resources spent go to waste.”

Governor Douye Diri commended Dr. Harcourt Aduke, the hotel’s founder, for his foresight and commitment to investing in Bayelsa’s economy, describing the project as a landmark development that would boost the state’s hospitality sector, create jobs for the youth, and contribute to community development.