June 28, 2010
Administrators and managers at London’s swanky Grosvenor Hotel in Park Lane, venue of the Nigeria at 50 London Summit and Gala night, are having a rough time today as the Nigeria Liberty Forum in London (NLF) organized a phone protest against the hotel over what members have described as a “culture of waste” by the Goodluck Jonathan government.
Administrators and managers at London’s swanky Grosvenor Hotel in Park Lane, venue of the Nigeria at 50 London Summit and Gala night, are having a rough time today as the Nigeria Liberty Forum in London (NLF) organized a phone protest against the hotel over what members have described as a “culture of waste” by the Goodluck Jonathan government.
At least 18 Nigerian governors, along with an army of federal, state and political party pretenders, are attending the two-day so-called "Golden Jubilee and Gala Nite," ostensibly to “celebrate” Nigeria's golden jubilee, which is four months away. The protesting Nigerians, calling for accountability, are angry that the nation’s hard earned oil wealth is being wasted by irresponsible public officials in London instead of being used to provide for the needy in Nigeria.
Kayode Ogundamisi, the NLF Convener in London, told Saharareporters that the switchboard of the hotel has been jammed by Nigerians across the globe. They had been instructed by the NLF in a press statement issued through its Facebook page to protest Jonathan's waste of Nigerian resources on a needless jamboree.
Saharareporters had revealed yesterday that owing to our revelation of Jonathan's 140-man strong delegation to the G8 and G20 conference in Canada, he had abandoned the London jamboree to which an additional 120 officials were being flown-in from Nigeria to join the 140 allegedly coming from the G8 conference in Canada. Jonathan was to fly directly to London last Friday but he instead returned to Abuja, making a brief stopover in Dakar, Senegal.
Contacted by Saharareporters as to whether Grosvenor Hotel has a policy on accepting criminal money, as is being alleged by the protesters in London and beyond, Malin Lund, on behalf of the hotel, said he was not at liberty to disclose any information regarding the hotel’s clients.
NLF FaceBook press release: London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, in Park Lane, London, W1K 7TN is the venue for the Nigeria at 50: London Summit. Over 10 Billion Naira is budgeted for series of events, please call the hotel today on 0207 499 6363. Enlighten them on the implication of the hotel being used by Nigerian ambassador in the UK Dr Dalhatu Sarki Tafida as a venue for squandering Nigeria’s resources. Event date 29th June 2010. Time kept secret by Nigerian High Commission in the UK."
The organizers of the event are complaining too, an SMS message sent to the NLF by a panic -stricken organizer, Christian. C. Udechukwu, claims that the Golden Jubilee Business Summit, held on the 28th - 29th of June 2010 in London is a private business initiative, sponsored by some of the worlds leading companies. "He further claimed, "It does not have financial support from the official budget of Nigerian's Global Jubilee Celebrations. However Government officials were invited to use the event to promote trade and investment in to Nigeria, through attracting over 500 delegates from around the world. The event helps to lift the profile of Nigeria's 50th anniversary."
Mr. Udechukwu, who once served as Charles Soludo's PR aide and self-acclaimed hustler and operator of BEN TV, Alistair Soyode were sighted at the event today, but little or no presence of Nigerian officials might have led to a major flop of the well advertised event as political parties, citizens and advocates continue to advocate a cancellation of the Nigeria at 50 celebrations for which N10 billion in addition to forced donations by state and local governments would be wasted by the Jonathan regime.
At least 18 Nigerian governors, along with an army of federal, state and political party pretenders, are attending the two-day so-called "Golden Jubilee and Gala Nite," ostensibly to “celebrate” Nigeria's golden jubilee, which is four months away. The protesting Nigerians, calling for accountability, are angry that the nation’s hard earned oil wealth is being wasted by irresponsible public officials in London instead of being used to provide for the needy in Nigeria.
Kayode Ogundamisi, the NLF Convener in London, told Saharareporters that the switchboard of the hotel has been jammed by Nigerians across the globe. They had been instructed by the NLF in a press statement issued through its Facebook page to protest Jonathan's waste of Nigerian resources on a needless jamboree.
Saharareporters had revealed yesterday that owing to our revelation of Jonathan's 140-man strong delegation to the G8 and G20 conference in Canada, he had abandoned the London jamboree to which an additional 120 officials were being flown-in from Nigeria to join the 140 allegedly coming from the G8 conference in Canada. Jonathan was to fly directly to London last Friday but he instead returned to Abuja, making a brief stopover in Dakar, Senegal.
Contacted by Saharareporters as to whether Grosvenor Hotel has a policy on accepting criminal money, as is being alleged by the protesters in London and beyond, Malin Lund, on behalf of the hotel, said he was not at liberty to disclose any information regarding the hotel’s clients.
NLF FaceBook press release: London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, in Park Lane, London, W1K 7TN is the venue for the Nigeria at 50: London Summit. Over 10 Billion Naira is budgeted for series of events, please call the hotel today on 0207 499 6363. Enlighten them on the implication of the hotel being used by Nigerian ambassador in the UK Dr Dalhatu Sarki Tafida as a venue for squandering Nigeria’s resources. Event date 29th June 2010. Time kept secret by Nigerian High Commission in the UK."
The organizers of the event are complaining too, an SMS message sent to the NLF by a panic -stricken organizer, Christian. C. Udechukwu, claims that the Golden Jubilee Business Summit, held on the 28th - 29th of June 2010 in London is a private business initiative, sponsored by some of the worlds leading companies. "He further claimed, "It does not have financial support from the official budget of Nigerian's Global Jubilee Celebrations. However Government officials were invited to use the event to promote trade and investment in to Nigeria, through attracting over 500 delegates from around the world. The event helps to lift the profile of Nigeria's 50th anniversary."
Mr. Udechukwu, who once served as Charles Soludo's PR aide and self-acclaimed hustler and operator of BEN TV, Alistair Soyode were sighted at the event today, but little or no presence of Nigerian officials might have led to a major flop of the well advertised event as political parties, citizens and advocates continue to advocate a cancellation of the Nigeria at 50 celebrations for which N10 billion in addition to forced donations by state and local governments would be wasted by the Jonathan regime.
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