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Former President Goodluck Jonathan has criticized the trend among governors who abandon projects initiated by their predecessors, calling it a significant source of waste in governance throughout Nigeria.
Jonathan made these remarks on Wednesday while inaugurating the Best Western Plus Hotel in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
He expressed regret that many initiatives he launched while serving as the governor of Bayelsa before becoming Vice President in 2007 were left unfinished by subsequent administrations.
“As the first elected deputy governor of Bayelsa State, the then-governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, began hosting the African Movie Awards ceremonies, attracting participants from America, South Africa, and other countries, including many actors and actresses.
“It was a global event: these celebrities lead extravagant lives, and during the first edition hosted, most international guests had to stay in Port Harcourt due to the lack of hotels in Bayelsa State.
“The purpose of a state promoting tourism is to encourage visitors to spend their foreign currency locally to boost the local economy. If the state invests in programs that draw people from around the world, only for the money to be spent in other states, that represents a poor investment,” he stated.
The former President pointed out that his administration had approved contracts for building a five-star Tower Hotel and two three-star hotels to enhance accommodation and tourism in the state.
He mentioned that completing these projects would have positioned Yenagoa as a prime destination for investors and tourists.
