When I read the news article published on
vol 3 No 36 of weekly update Newspapers titled “it's A Lie
Idowu not owner of 10th Anniversary Hotel, - Ex top
Government Official fingered as owner” I came to conclusion
that some one is either out to misinform the general public
or is doing an image laundry job for somebody over an issue
which nearly snowballed into serious animosity between two
prominent ethnic groups in Nigeria if not for the managerial
prowess of the incumbent Governor and the unimaginable
spirit of tolerance and understanding of Mr. S.F. Idowu, who
happens to be a victim of political intrigues.
Today every keen observer of the raging issue surrounding
the 10th Anniversary Hotel knows that the matter dragged
into the present logjam or problem over the political
interest of all the big players involve in the saga.
I wouldn't want to go back to the History of the Anniversary
Hotel but the fact and naked truth remains that, Arch Obong
Victor Attah's administration upon its decision to build a
new five star hotel in Nwaniba Uruan may have considered the
terrain, the gulf course which already in existence there,
thus going ahead with the already abandoned 10th Anniversary
Hotel project was no longer tenable thus the decision of the
Attah's Government to sell off the property to the highest
bidden rather than wasting away.
The Government conscious of the due process mechanism
already put in place by the Obasanjo administration
empowered AKIIPOC to contract a reputable Auctioneer for the
sale of the jettisoned edifice.
Thomas Gamble and company was contracted by AKIIPOC for the
liquidation of the abandoned Hotel project.
Addressing Newsmen recently in Uyo the principal partner of
Thomas Gamble and partners Mr. Ime Gamble whose company
handled the liquidation of the Hotel project emphasised that
the complex was sold through due process to Mr. Sunday Idowu
of Joyein Ventures Ltd.
Gamble Group maintained during the briefing that he was
contracted by the Akwa Ibom Industrial and Investment
Promotion council to source for a buyer for the gigantic
project when AKIIPOC failed to secure a core investor.
According to him, he advertised the sale of the hotel in the
state owned Pioneer Newspapers and the Punch Newspaper with
national coverage “After the advertisement which was done in
2003 we waited for almost two years to find the right buyer,
many people bided but non was reasonable” he noted.
He further emphasized that some bided for N35 million, 25
million etc stressing that most bidder's prominent indigenes
of the state never showed up after the bidding until Mr.
Sunday Idowu of the Joyein Ventures came up with a bid of N
50 million.
He further highlighted “when this offer was made we
contacted AKIIPOC and they Okayed the sales before we went
ahead”.
But contrary to speculations in some quarters Gamble
disclosed that all stakeholders in the hotel were duely
settled but however denied knowledge of what made the
immediate past administration to revoke the sale of the
hotel, in his very words “ I don't know what led to the
revocation but I know that government is about dialogue. The
buyers should contact government and negotiate there must be
a meeting point certainly the Government would not want such
a massive investment to be wasted” he concluded in an
emotion laden voice.
But keen observers and stakeholder knew the root of the
problem which I identified earlier as political.
The Attah's administration no doubt empowered Joyein
Ventures owned by Mr. S. F Idowu through some roads and
other infrastructural projects; Mr. Idowu on the other hand
employed over 90% of Akwa Ibom Indigenes to work for his
company and benefited from the largesse that came with the
projects.
He went further to genuinely bid and won the hotel project
which would have further employ at least over 90% of Akwa
Ibom Indigenes.
Attah on his own during the last lap of his presidential
campaign at the Ibom Hall ground Uyo had publicly
acknowledge Mr. Idowu's efforts in his exact words Attah
stated, I wish to commend Mr. S. F. Idowu whom I refer to as
my son out of all the non-indigenes who benefited from my
administration it was only Idowu who thought it wise to
invest back in Akwa Ibom State for the benefit of the Akwa
Ibom people thereby discouraging capital flight” an elated
Attah's stated this at Ibom Hall in the presence of the
mammoth crowd.
But Mr. S. F.Idowu albatross or miscalculation was that he
never knew the former Governor's reaction towards
provocation, those who have mistakenly step on his toes in
the past have tales of woes to tell, even media
practitioners were not spared.
The story in town was that when Nigerians and Akwa Ibom
State decided to elect the governor in 2007, Mr. Sunday
Idowu who by exigency could be considered a stake holder in
the state decided to pitch his tent with Chief Godswill
Akpabio turning his back on Mr. Udoma Bob Ekarika, Attah's
son in law whom Attah wanted.
An apparently angered Attah whose toes were perhaps marched
by Idowu and the majority of Akwa Ibomites demanded his own
pound of flesh and one was available the 10th Anniversary
Hotel purchase by Idowu which he had publicly commended him
for investing in the state earlier became the victim.
Wielding his Executives powers at the twilight of his
administration, Attah used a sledge harmmer on a fly
remisence of the Chinua Achebe's things fall apart when
Okonkwo cut down his adopted son Ikemefuna in anger.
Curiously before the sledge harmmer, Mr. S.F. Idowu in his
characteristic manner of good brotherliness had sold part of
the plot to Mr. Ime Ekanem of the MIE Engineering when he
demands for a part of the plot for another project.
Attah's administration upon revoking the Idowu plot, issued
another certificate of occupancy to Mr. Ekanem on the plot
he bought from Idowu raising the ethnic dimension to the
matter.
A helpless Akpabio administration that inherited this
liability from the past administration have been working
tirelessly to resolve the problem.
In an advertorial published recently on several local and
national Newspapers, the governor relying on the powers
conferred on him by section 28 of land use Act No 6 of 1978
approved the revocation of certificate No NY/4587/2006 dated
April 2007 and registered as No 80 at page 80 in volume 253
in the land registry office Uyo. The land covers an area
approximately 8043.003 which was the part of the plot Idowu
sold out to Mr. Ekanem to douse the ethnic dimension which
the matter assumed with tension raising in Western part of
the country over the perceived injustice meted out to their
son, who reside work and earn his legitimate living in Akwa
Ibom State.
But what keep rekindling in the minds of many till date were
the words of the Auctioneer Mr. Ime Gamble “I was personally
elated when I saw the level of development at the hotel
complex, infact I said to my self, this is one good sale I
have made” but it is sad that the hotel project targeted to
create employment and livelihood had to end that way.
He urged policy makers to revisit the situation emphasizing
that he was ready at all times to defined the process of the
hotel sale and appealed to the people to avoid enthninisng
the situation since the issues could be reconciled.
But come to think of it Mr. S.F. Idowu long silence on the
raging issue may be said to be golden as posterity will
surely vindicate him and for the twist and lies that Mr. S.
F. Idowu was a front for somebody to secure the project as
reported in weekly update, I humbly refer them to the state
commissioner for lands and town planning for more
information.
Addressing journalist recently on the issue, Dr. Akpan
admitted that a certificate of occupancy No Uy/4185/2005
dated 10th November 2005 for a piece of land at plot along
ring road II covering an area of 3.675 hectares issued to
Joyein Ventures Limited owned by Mr. Sunday Idowu by Attah's
administration was revoked by same administration at its
twilight.
He further stressed during the press briefing that
Government had commence discussion with Mr. Idowu with a
view to ensuring that adequate compensation were paid to him
following the revocation of the C. of O.
Akpabio effort so far which is quite commendable may not
heal the deep wound which the arbitrary revoking of the
hotel project may have caused the victim Mr. Idowu perhaps
because the circumstances that brought the logjam which is
political.
Not even the compensation of any amount of money may still
heal the wound because he may have thought of great vision
in future when he decided to grab the offer at that whopping
amount then.
But what marvels the public was Mr. Idowu continued silence
on the matter on several occasions he had turned down
Interview from Newsmen on the 10th Anniversary project saga.
Not even undue pressure will carve him in, in one such
situation; he managed to say no comment, no comment.
Only recently when a group of journalist cornered him while
supervising some on-going projects, Mr. Idowu only said
after several probing question. “I can only quote Alexander”
“only destiny denies one the final frontier” and zoomed off
in his already awaiting vehicle.
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