SaharaReporters had reported that the Governor Hope Uzodinma-led State government announced its taking over of all the hotel rooms in Owerri, the state capital from November 4 to November 12, 2023 as the state goes into governorship election on November 11.
There was uproar at Marriott Bonvoy Hotel in Owerri, Imo State capital after the hotel gave out all the reservations made by some old students of the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), for their 2023 global reunion to “politicians.”
SaharaReporters had reported that the Governor Hope Uzodinma-led State government announced its taking over of all the hotel rooms in Owerri, the state capital from November 4 to November 12, 2023 as the state goes into governorship election on November 11.
The taking over of all the hotel rooms in the state capital no matter the quality, sizes, prices and locations, was announced in a letter dated October 25, 2023, signed by the Commissioner for Tourism, Barrister Jerry Egbule Egemba, and sent to all the General Managers of hotels in Owerri.
In a video making the rounds on the internet, some old students of the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) who said they made their reservations some months ago for their reunion, were denied access to the rooms they booked as they were informed on their arrival at the hotel that all the hotel rooms had been taken over by the government.
WATCH: Uproar As Imo State Hotel Gives Out Reservations Made By Government Girls College Old Students After Uzodinma’s Directive pic.twitter.com/O6rQxjPS2W
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) November 3, 2023
The person who recorded the video said, "A very unfortunate incident is taking place at Marriott Hotel, Owerri, where reservations for the old students of Federal Government Girls College, Owerri, who had come in for their 5th global reunion and who had reservations at the hotel were left disappointed.
"What we heard was that in spite of the reservations that were made several months before this date, at the last minute, the hotel management gave away the reservations to politicians who came in, leaving many old girls of the Federal Government Girls College stranded. No place to sleep, no place to stay.
"It is very disappointing that a hotel could display this kind of inhospitable act to their clients."
Some of the stranded customers could be heard in the video saying that they flew into Owerri from London and the US.
When contacted, Oguwike Nwachukwu, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uzodinma, denied the state government's taking over all the hotel rooms in the state capital.
Nwachukwu said, "All these allegations are unfounded. We had already explained that it was false. I challenge you to go and approach a hotel for accommodation and use your experience to inform yourself properly.
"Both the Commissioner for Information and Strategy and the commissioner for Tourism have long dispelled the allegation."