Ebonyi Hotels

Time of reckoning! It’s worth it that after Gov Elechi’s ‘Thank You Visit’ to local councils in Ebonyi state, Dragnet beams its floodlight on Ebonyi streets, public institutions, offices, agencies, local council areas; and of course the personal staff of Gov Elechi before their quit the juicy seats come July 31, 2013. What truths have governors’ boys been hiding from the dear Big Daddy for the last six years? Tenders are therefore invited from fans in the proposed joint series- Truth They Don’t Want Elechi to Know. Send me the truth Elechi ought to know and I will blow it to him. Use calls if you have large facts, otherwise, drop sms.

Get me right! I don’t intend to compare the last two democratic or better still, civilian administrations in Ebonyi State. I only want to prove two points; I will close for the week. When ability of the masses to make good judgment of their needs in the both regimes is compared, the present administration has an edge over the past. When hotels built within the two administrations are put side by side, one will agree that the present is lagging behind the past.  Let me explain!

First Comparison: In the first eight years of civilian rule in the State, Ebonyians were like the biblical Prodigal Son anxious to have their share of the father’s property.  People thought that there was much wisdom in asking the father to ‘give us’ our share. People wanted merriment and they got it. Sundays would be fun-filled with young boys and girls lining up their model 2.2 Toyota Camry cars along major joints. People wanted money and it was shared each according to his usefulness to the regime. People wanted power and political positions were multiplied; thugs were not left out and some families were nicknamed development centres. And with joint accounting system, they were financially kept alive. People wanted education and it was made ‘free’. They wanted roads and roads were painted. People were of course jubilant like children rejoicing in a car that is running out of control.

However, it is difficult to explain people’s feeling coming out of the government of name-your-wish-and-it-shall-be-granted-unto-you. We came out from that merriment era much wiser and determined to make better and right choices. The failure of that era was a collective failure and should be consigned to the dustbin of history. Among other things, we learnt that while pleasure is good, joy is preferable. We learnt that roads could be painted and they would appear neat. We learnt that nothing is really free except ignorance. We learnt that responsibility of good government is ‘to make’ and not ‘to give.’ When the prodigal son returned, he did not ask the father to give him his share instead he asked the father ‘to make him’ a slave. It is very tempting for money to go into the hands of those who don’t labour for it. Those who do not know how to make money will not know how to spend. That is what we call ‘money miss road.’

Second Comparison: Make no mistake about it. All hotels built during the second civilian administration cannot make 10 per cent of hotels built between 1999 and 2007. Today, Abakaliki has more hotels than the ancient capital city of Enugu. In fact, after politics, hotel is the second industry in Ebonyi State. It is as if people are excessively compelled to build hotels. One gets political appointment today, tomorrow he starts building a hotel.

Reasons may vary as to why the present civilian government in the state is reluctant in building hotels. It may be that they have discovered that the present hotels in the state can serve the tourist interest of the state. But this is not most likely because a typical Ebonyian likes investing where another has invested. Set up Aluminium factory today and in matter of days you will see all development centre coordinators withholding staff salaries and slashing remunerations because they want to build theirs. I think two reasons explain the reluctance to carry on with hotel technology. The first could be that it has learnt from the mistake of the past. The second which is consequent of the first is that it is much wiser.

If entrepreneurship is providing what people need at one’s own gain, then building hotel in a Ebonyi is a misplaced investment. People who doubt this candid assessment should confer with the pioneer hotels owners in the state. Ebonyi man has some many worries to think of than going to hotel to catch fun. If hotels were baits they can’t make a catch here. Those who invested in hotels in Ebonyi have discovered their folly. The spectators have seen more than themselves.

First Discovery: The hotel owners in Ebonyi are their sole patronizers, each on his own. They patronize themselves when their children and perhaps their spiritual or political godson or daughter hold reception after their wedding. Next, the hotel is useful if their girlfriends or concubines are having their birthday brouhaha. Whatever it may be it is the owner who foots the bill. That is why many of these hotels are today like museums. If a hotel can’t generate money to pay the staff, that hotel is a hotel in name but in operation, it is like an NGO without foreign support.

Second Discovery: The second patronizers are prostitutes. There is no where on earth prostitutes pay hotel bills; it is the responsibility of their customers to foot any hotel expenses. And whenever prostitutes lodge, it is the customers who take care of the bills. And when the owners and the customers are the same, that chapter is closed. He who dictates the tune pays the piper. If a hotel owner prefers his hotel returns in kind who are the staff to question him? Most of the hotels are extended bedroom of extra-marital affairs.

Third Discovery: Ebonyi Hotels are hideout for occult activities. People who keep the secret of their occult activities from their spouses go to hotels to perform their routine rituals. Many of them have permanent rooms and no other person lodges there. They pay their annual bill and go home with their keys. They smuggle mad women to these places as it was particular rumoured against one politician in a distant past.  This is where many of our school girls have lost their wombs to in the name of dating politicians. Those hotels that appear to be more buoyant are patronized by this category of customers. In most cases, the owners and these customers are one and the same.

It is understandable that when money enters wrong hand, it is invested unwisely. The mad rush to build hotel is a consequence of economic stimulus without austerity going on among the power brokers in the state.

If I were to have my way to the legislative house, I will sponsor bill prohibiting people who want to build hotels in Ebonyi from doing so. Ebonyi needs industries not hotels.