Ebonyi LG boss, Ogodo-Ali applauds Nwifuru for unsealing his hotel facility

...says the facility has the government Approval, and its now functioning

By Uchenna Okeh Abakaliki 

The Chairman of Ezza North local government area, Moses Ogodo-Ali, has applauded governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, for his prompt intervention that resulted in the unsealing of his hotel facility.

The Nations News learnt that the facility was reportedly shut down and occupants dragged out by suspected thugs working for the ministry of capital City and urban development over alleged failure to secure approval for the facility.

Ogodo-Ali, who spoke to newsmen in Abakaliki insisted that the facility had an approval in 2013 by the same ministry, adding that 

"The commissioner was talking about the issue of space. He was advising me to acquire more places to add because of the space. And we are making arrangements to acquire other places to add and expand the hotel.

"we got an architect who put up a drawing. And immediately the drawing was out. We sent it to his office for approval. Little did we know that they had not even started work on it before this action commenced. The hotel has been approved since 2013.


"And the approval I have shown to you. And we are talking about the next expansion. I don't know how they got to the main hotel to seal the hotel.

"But the good news is that the executive governor, Francis Nwifuru has intervened and has come to unseal the hotel. We are one government. We cannot fight ourselves.



"We do not think about any other thing except that the hotel has been unsealed. And we have made promises that we are going to acquire more lands around to create more space for the hotel.

"But why everybody is interested in this one is not to the best of my knowledge. But the truth of the matter is that the hotel has been unsealed. And the document for the approval of the expansion of the hotel is on his table.

"So, he has a duty to send his men to supervise the work, to test the quality of the work that is going on. Because we cannot fold our hands and allow our space to be idle. We must be doing something on it.

"But his action is to protect his work and do his work. So I'm not against him. But the truth is that to propagate that we didn't have approval for the hotel is what I don't believe in.

"Although I read part of the thing he wrote when the commissioner responded to the press. He said that the old building was approved. But the new one is yet to be approved. 

"That is lying on his table. He didn't deny it. So I'm not quarrelling with him. The hotel facility is unsealed. And it's functioning. No problems" he stated.

He expressed regret that some of the occupants of the facility were reportedly dragged out "Those of them (customers) who were chased out by thugs should come back. We have one system and we have one governor. And the governor has made a statement that the hotel be opened.
 

He however, dismissed the rumours making the rounds that the shutting down of the hotel facility was the handiwork of his political opponents, who allegedly want to bring him down.

"I don't believe the opponents are talking about business. And naturally men have enemies and opponents. If a man doesn't have enemies and opponents, he just does not exist. And I'm not afraid of my enemies.

"The Bible said I will place a table before you in front of your enemies. If you don't have an enemy, God will not place a table before you. So I need a table. So the enemies must exist" he added. 

The council chairman, Ogodo-Ali assured people (customers) of adequate protection of lives in the facility, "There will never be any incidents of insecurity here. It is one of the most secured hotels in town.

"There is no time you come here without policemen being here. Only now. So we are not talking about security" he stressed.