Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan has criticised successive Bayelsa State administrations for neglecting key development projects he initiated during his tenure as governor, describing the trend as a costly waste of public resources.
Speaking on Wednesday at the inauguration of the Best Western Plus Hotel in Yenagoa, Jonathan said he had started several hotel projects aimed at boosting tourism and attracting investors to the state before leaving office to become Vice President in 2007.
“When a governor leaves office, the next governor doesn’t want to follow up, and most of the money spent goes to waste,” Jonathan said, lamenting that many of his administration’s investments in the hospitality sector were left unfinished.
He recalled that his government had sought to make Yenagoa more appealing to visitors, particularly during the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), which Bayelsa hosted at the time. “During the first AMAA event, most of the international guests stayed in Port Harcourt because Bayelsa had no suitable hotels,” he said. “So we supported local hoteliers with loans of ₦10m to ₦15m to upgrade their facilities, but after I left office, nobody refunded the money, and the initiative died.”
Jonathan noted that contracts were awarded for three major hotels—including the Tower Hotel and two three-star facilities — but none were completed. “If they had done these three hotels, visitors coming to Bayelsa today would have comfortable places to stay. But somehow when I left, even those I mobilised, we didn’t see what they have done,” he added.
The former president, however, commended the management of Best Western Plus for bringing a world-class hospitality brand to Yenagoa, saying the development fulfilled the tourism vision he had long envisioned for Bayelsa.
In his remarks, Governor Douye Diri hailed the hotel’s founder, Dr. Harcourt Adukeh, for his commitment to the state’s economic growth, describing the project as a “landmark investment” that would strengthen the hospitality sector, create jobs, and spur private enterprise.
Diri also urged Bayelsans to follow Adukeh’s example by investing in their home state to drive sustainable development.
The hotel’s executive director, Mrs Initeme Aduke-Eromhonsele, and Dr Adukeh said the facility — which overlooks the Oxbow Lake — blends elegance, comfort, and modern design.
The launch of the Best Western Plus Hotel, part of the global Best Western brand, signals a new phase in Yenagoa’s emergence as a destination for tourism, investment, and premium hospitality in the Niger Delta.
