Kogi State Government has written to all hotel owners and managers in the state, saying it would book their rooms between November 4 and 12, 2023 – ahead of the next governorship election up till the day after the poll.
November 11 is the date for the next governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.
A copy of the letter from the Kogi State Government dated October 31, 2023 and signed by Alh. Oricha U. Shuaibu, PhD, Director General, Government House Administration, was addressed to “All Chief Executive Officers Of Hotels Across Kogi State and All General Managers Of Hotels Across Kogi State.”
The letter titled, ‘Request For Reservation Of All Your Hotel Rooms From 4th November To 12th November, 2023,’ reads, “I wish to refer to the above subject and inform you that the state government intends to rent and occupy all the rooms in your hotel no matter the size and classification from Saturday, 4th November to Sunday, 12th November, 2023 at your usual cost per room for full occupation.
“I therefore request you to submit to my office before 12 noon on Wednesday, 1st November, 2023 details of your accommodation bills for all the rooms covering the period for settlement.
“Your urgent cooperation would be appreciated, please.”
The letter was copied to ALGON (Association of Local Governments of Nigeria) Chairman, Kogi State with a note saying: “For your attention and necessary action, please.”
A hotel owner who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity described the move by Governor Yahaya Bello’s government as “an attempt to deprive opposition parties of a place to stay ahead of the November 11th election”.
Also, a manager of one of the hotels revealed that they do not intend to oblige the state government.
The source said, “We all know they will not pay for those rooms but if we refuse, they threaten us with demolition and excessive charges to operate.
“The state capital Lokoja is expected to host a good number of customers that day and we cannot afford to lose our customers to people who will be indebted to us.”
Similarly, Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration in Imo State also wrote to hotel owners in Owerri, the state capital, asking them to reserve their rooms from November 4 to November 12, 2023, as the state also goes into a governorship election on November 11.
In a letter dated October 25, 2023, signed by the Commissioner for Tourism, Barrister Jerry Egbule Egemba, and sent to all the General Managers of hotels in Owerri, the state government said, “I wish to refer to the above subject and inform you that the Ministry of Tourism intends to rent and occupy all the rooms in your hotel no matter the size and classification from Saturday 4th November to Saturday 12th November 2023 at your usual cost per room for full occupation.
“I therefore request you to submit to my office before 12 noon tomorrow Thursday 26th October, 2023 details of your accommodation bills for all the rooms covering the period for settlement.”
“Your urgent cooperation would be appreciated, please,” the letter added.
The Advocate learnt that other political parties and their governorship campaign organizations in Kogi and Imo states are already taking measures to counter the governments’ moves, which the alleged were part of plans to rig the elections.
