Abia 2027 governorship aspirant, Sir Mascot Uzor Kalu, has turned up the heat on the state government, insisting it must come clean on its sudden role in the controversial Enyimba Hotels transaction.
Kalu, a chieftain of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), said that as recently as 2023, the landmark hotel was fully owned by the Aba Chamber of Commerce and a handful of private investors who had already sealed a structured partnership with global hospitality giant Radisson Blu.
According to verified reports sighted by MUK TV, Radisson Blu had been picked as the official management partner, while an international financier had tabled a 50-million-dollar investment proposal to transform the hotel into a world-class facility, far from the 75-million-dollar figure now being pushed by the state.
The former Abia Chief of Staff noted that the financing plan was crafted to complete the hotel and elevate it into a premium tourism and economic hub with a cutting-edge conference centre, but without any initial ownership or equity role for the state government.
Therefore, Kalu is demanding to know what changed, how the government entered the deal, what financial commitments it has made, and what legal obligations now tie Abia State to the project.
He said the public must be told whether the government bought shares from the Aba Chamber of Commerce, entered a new joint venture, issued sovereign guarantees, or committed state funds through another route.
He also raised red flags over the secrecy surrounding the identities of all current partners, the actual amount the state is investing, and the long-term cost to taxpayers.
“Such a high-profile transaction cannot operate in the shadow of ambiguity, selective disclosure, or institutional silence, especially when public funds or state guarantees may be involved,” he queried.
Kalu reminded the government of its own campaign promises on transparency and accountability.
In his words, “This is what the Governor promised during his 2023 campaign, and Abians deserve it.”
“The people of Abia State are entitled to a clear, comprehensive, and well-documented breakdown of the Enyimba Hotels engagement, including the ownership configuration, funding obligations, and the project’s long-term economic expectations,” he demanded.
