Imo State has always been a top destination for hospitality investors and tourism seekers. This is true owing to the beautiful and luxurious hotels, nightclubs, entrainment industries, exotic restaurant tourist sites, lodgings, and recreational centers, among others.
This unique trademark was halted due to insecurity which has improved largely as the Executive Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, confronted the behemoth head-on.
During the weekend, Chief Hon. Kyrian Uchegbu PhD, the NDDC Federal Commissioner Representing Imo State, attended the opening ceremony of Complementary Hotels Limited (Annex), Umuoba, Irete Owerri-West LGA, Imo State.
Guest House is owned by Hon. Chief Ethelberth Nnanna (Watch Out ), an Obeama, Agwa-born son, a businessman, political heavyweight in Oguta, and Imo State at large, who was a former Ada Palm Manager, Imo State House of Assembly, representing Oguta State Constituency, and Local Government Chairman.
Uchegbu, in a steez bravado, arrived at the venue with his entourage at exactly 4:1:31 P.m., Saturday 14, 2024, and immediately, the ceremony radiated as he traditionally went around to exchange greetings with friends and constituents.
As a man of letter and a traditional custodian, the trail of kola nuts was handed over to him by the Chief Host, Hon. Ethelberth Nnanna, and after Hon. Barr. Bethel Nzimako also received the kola nuts, it proceeded to a representative of the traditional Ruler of Umuoba, to Chief Canice Uzor, Mgbala Land Priest who received it on behalf of Agwa Clan, and finally to Chief Chimezie Nzerem who performed the breaking of kola nuts rituals; and thereafter, brought back to the NDDC Commissioner who received kola nuts on behalf of Mr. President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCRF), who appointed him, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma (CON), the Executive Governor of Imo State, Oguta LGA, as the highest political appointee present at the event and his as the chairman of the occasion.
In his remarks, the NDDC Commissioner, thanked Watch Out for completing the project, Barr. Bethel Nzimako for being a friend and ally with particular reference to 2003 when Barr. Bethel facilitated his emergence to win the 2003 Oguta Constituency ticket of NRP as well as the Umuba Community for being accommodating to strangers.
“I want to express my appreciation to the Umuoba Community for their peaceful disposition towards strangers, which is necessary for development. When I was driving to this place, your road was accessible, which is credited to the leaders of the community, and safe for a spot that is narrowed.
“A project like this has huge economic benefits to the owner, the community, and transit landlords. I am happy also that the representatives of the traditional Ruler are here, the youth leader and other leaders of the community. With this level of attendance and acceptance of the project to be cited here, it shows that you will protect it as your own.
“Based on my observation of the road, I would like to sincerely request that the leaders of Umuoba who are here today go home and dialogue with your Eze and other concerned leaders to widen that narrowed spot so that the road will be tarred because a multi-million project like this should have a good road in other to increase high patronage.
Continuing, Uchegbu said, “I will go home after this event and come back with my team to take a look and measure the environment so that this area would be illuminated with Solar Light Installation under the “Operation Light up Niger Delta” of Mr. President Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking during the cutting of the ribbon formally, Uchegbu said,
” We have come here to celebrate with our friend and brother who God has helped to complete this project. I pray that this edifice will not harbor criminals, kidnappers, and evil people. It will serve the positive purposes for which it was built.
“This edifice will serve the best interest of the owner and the community. It will bring money that the owner will use to build a better one. I, therefore, commission this Guest House for public use to the glory of God in the name of God the Father, Amen”.
The ovation of the exercise led to the NDDC Commissioner accompanied by messer, Hon. Barr. Bethel Nzimako, Hon. Collins Ugo Jumbo, Hon. Casimir Ohamara, Mr. Sammy Black, and Supol Kuti amongst others moved into the guest house for inspection led by Hon. Watch Out who took him around the 18 rooms well-furnished with a spacious Bar and lit, but a moment of happy surprise came when the NDDC Commissioner and Bethel Nzimako was shown a room each dedicated in their honors with the inscriptions ” Kyrian Uchegbu” and Bethel Nzimako” respectively.
Chief Canice Uzor, the land priest of Mgbala Autonomous Community, during the speech and donation session, asked the NDDC Commissioner why Agwa is yet to benefit from the ongoing Light up Niger Delta despite being an oil clan. Responding to the question, the NDDC Commissioner said,
“I want to thank my big brother and friend, Chief Canice Uzor, for bringing us this question. In my capacity as the NDDC Commissioner and the directive of Mr. President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the project is for all Niger Delta States and communities without prejudice. And I want to tell you that Agwa is fully captured in the project. My worries are contractors are turning down offers to come to Agwa and work. As I speak to you now, I have secured solar lights to be installed within the areas premises of the Agwa Police Divisional Headquarters. The major constraint is the state of security in Agwa which is discouraging even the contractors to be mobilized to Agwa.
“I want to challenge Agwa leaders that are here today to put their house to clear these doubts. If any of you here can guarantee that he can come to my house and carry those lights for installation at the Agwa Police Divisional Headquarters, my doors are open.
“Concerning the road linking Agwa to Owerri-West via Amakohia, I suggest that the traditional rulers of these communities write a joint and signed letter through my office that I will forward to the Commission in Abuja so that the road will be captured in the next budget of the commission for construction,” Uchegbu said.
Other dignitaries in attendance include
Dr. Chimere Arinze Obodo, Barr Cajetan Osisioma, Dr. (Mrs.) Petrolina Ugoeze Ujure, Hon. John Mbonu Uchenwoke-Ekperechi, Mr. Christian Okoro Ogbonnaya, Mr. Felix Udo Ogbonna, amongst others.
