Sheraton hotel of fraud * How snakes, rodents, grasses take over Four Point by Sheraton

BY EMMANUEL AKPAN

While strangers and those outside Akwa Ibom may think Akpabio’s four star Hotel christened, Four Points by Sheraton is a major glory to Akwa Ibom State, recent developments in the premises of the much hyped hospitality industry have revealed that the project is a failure and a complete waste of Akwa Ibom tax payers money.

 It appears the much talked about Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Ikot Ekpene that was built and commissioned at an uncompleted stage by former governor Godswill Akpabio has finally been abandoned. The project which is seen by many as a big fraud perpetrated by former Governor Akpabio may not progress beyond the level it is at the moment if information gathered by this paper is anything to go by.

At the last count, certain harmful insects and reptiles have taken over the area with bushes growing all over the place. The place is totally uncared for and does not depict the much talked about Hotel that has gulped Akwa Ibom money to the tune of billions. 

 When our reporter visited the place over the weekend and spoke with some indigenes of Ikot Ekpene LGA, they blamed former governor Godswill Akpabio who is now the Senator representing the area in the National Assembly for embarking on such project which they described as a clear case of defrauding Akwa Ibom people. They blamed Akpabio for instituting such projects describing it as an embarrassment to the people of the Area.

One of the villagers, a youth activist who gave his name as Akparawa Etop Umoh informed THE INK reporter that had Akpabio channeled the money he used to erect the Hotel into another meaningful project, it would have served the people better than what he used Akwa Ibom money to do at the Ikot Ekpene Hotel.

The youth leader who was flanked by other youth leaders described the Hotel as a failure. He said, the place will remain an abandoned project if the Udom Emmanuel administration does not attend to it.

Speaking further, Akparawa Umoh described the Ikot Ekpene Hotel as a conduit pipe through which Akpabio used to dupe the people of the state in the name of building for them a four star Hotel.

A women leader from the Area, DADA Hannah Ibuot said she is speaking Onbehalf of the women. She described the Hotel in its present state as an embarrassment to the people of Ikot Ekpene and a shame to the Akpabio administration. She said, it is unfortunate that the only parting gift Akpabio could give to the people of Ikot Ekpene is a Hotel that will not see the light of the day. She appealed to the Governor Mr. Udom Emmanuel to see what he can do to rescue the Hotel which has since been overtaken by in her words, “nwub”.   

Our reporter noticed that the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel has been over taken by wild grasses with dangerous animals like snakes, lizards, squirrels, rats amongst others. When THE INK reporter moved further into the surroundings of the Hotel, he was almost bitten by a very big snake to the Chagrin of onlookers and a few persons who claimed to be workers there.

 
It was also noticed that the construction company that handled the project has since abandoned the hotel due to what they described as none released of funds by the present administration led by Governor Udom Emmanuel. It appears that the new Governor, Udom Emmanuel is not ready to do anything at the hotel.

A source from the government who spoke with THE INK, said the present administration of Udom Emmanuel will not be ready to toe the line of former governor Godswill Akpabio who was fond of embarking on a project that him-self was very sure it will not be completed by the end of the administration not to talk of brining benefit to Akwa Ibom people.

Udom Emmanuel’s government, our source hinted will focus on creating employment opportunities for the people of the State rather than embarking on a project that will never yield positive impact on the lives of the people. According to our source, “the hotel is a fraud of all times, because nothing is happening there at the moment. Ronesance Construction Company has since abandoned the project and packed out from the site. Akpabio really deceived Akwa Ibom people using that Hotel. I pray the new Governor Udom Emmanuel will not toe this line of defrauding and playing politics with projects.”