Former President Goodluck Jonathan expressed dismay over the abandonment of key projects he initiated as Bayelsa State Governor, accusing successive administrations of wasting resources by failing to continue his development plans. Speaking at the inauguration of the Best Western Plus Hotel in Yenagoa, Jonathan highlighted his efforts to boost tourism through hotel projects, including the Tower Hotel and two three-star facilities, which were left incomplete after he became Vice President in 2007.
He noted that his administration provided loans of N10m to N15m to local hoteliers to upgrade facilities for events like the Africa Movie Academy Awards, but the initiative collapsed as funds went unrecovered. “When a governor leaves, the next one doesn’t follow up, and most money spent goes to waste,” he said.
Jonathan praised the Best Western Plus Hotel’s founder, Dr. Harcourt Adukeh, for advancing Bayelsa’s tourism vision. Governor Douye Diri lauded the project as a boost for hospitality, job creation, and private investment.
The hotel’s Executive Director, Mrs. Initeme Aduke-Eromhonsele, emphasized its modern design and scenic Oxbow Lake view, marking Yenagoa’s rise as a tourism and investment hub in the Niger Delta.
