Anambra’s 10 Storey Hotel: Is There Anything About Soludo That Supports This Vision?

EMEKA CHUKWU

The point is, there are indeed successfully built hotels by government for strategic reasons, unlike what some critics have tried to portray in their pieces of detailed distortions. Like the proverbial court of chickens, no cockroach would ever mount the dock and come out guiltless. The influences of some of these critics are well known, and their prism of analysis, however smooth-sounding, can boldly be described as “an Enemy’s review”.

While there may be a thousand reason why the Anambra State government cannot or should not embark on its visionary 10 storey building hotel in Awka the State capital, there is always one very important reason they can and should dare. This is of course supported by historical facts that unarguably projects of this nature have achieved and still achieving their foundational objectives.

For instance, the Presidential Hotel, Enugu under the glorious era of Micheal Okpara in the old Eastern region, and the Le Meridian Hotel, Uyo Akwa Ibom State by Obong Victor Attah;

https://www.thecable.ng/ibom-golf-course-and-the-power-of-vision/amp#:~:text=The%20iconic%20Ibom%20hotel%20and,for%20leisure%2C%20business%20and%20recreation

Criticism is easy, every idea must be stress-tested under such circumstance. However, if there are more plausible benefits to it, a determined leader would fight to prove his critics wrong than kowtow and chicken out. Both Micheal Okpara and Obong Victor Attah have been described as Leaders with “big ideas”, Soludo’s trajectory in public service falls within that realm, and he has proven before now that envisioning and actualizing big goals are his forte.

Of course if there is a leader not to be dared with completing a project, that leader is Soludo. Those who ever dared came back recanting in amazement. Like the Nigerian Banking consolidation he began in 2004, which was described by persons we can qualify as seasoned Bankers and respected administrators as an “impossible task”. Many of them took to the back pages of National dailies to write long treaties premised on skewed evidence to justify their claim. Yet, 18 months later, a resilient Soludo delivered to Nigeria a brand new banking sector and systems that is today outliving him and generations of Central Bank Governors before and after him.

This is the same man who a vast majority of Nigerians and Ndi Anambra in particular have reposed enormous confidence in. The Soludo we all have come to know will certainly not fail them. Some persons may come back to argue that the CBN is unlike any State in normenclature and operations. However, I will like to remind them and others who share same view, that the CBN by its scope and mandate operates on a budget modestly accruable to at least 16 States of Nigeria put together. If after superintending over such a large institution without blemish. No cases of corruption in any court, a clean bill of public service health by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), heart-trick award as the global best CBN Governor and a robust foreign reserve for the country yet to be rivaled by anyone before and after him, then Soludo is a man we can trust if all political and subjective opinions were kept at bay.

Security advisories are routine responsibilities of foreign missions to their citizens, and when this is issued, it is not to discredit the government or people in question. It is just a guide to visitors to stay secured whenever they travel outside their home countries. Examples are provided below with one of such advisories asking visitors to even be mindful of Abuja the Federal capital city of the country. Has this stopped the influx of foreign finance and development partners into the FCT? Has it stopped fun seekers who throng the place from coming to have a feel of Nigerian hospitality?

https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/nigeria

https://www.theepochtimes.com/bright/us-updates-travel-advisories-for-14-countries-5371839?utm_medium=GoogleAds&utm_source=PerfmaxM&utm_campaign=PM_max_J6_20240103&gbraid=0AAAAACvurP_K4EpGWbqpGCO8ZPZAF0Yme&gclid=Cj0KCQiAzoeuBhDqARIsAMdH14HaD8TcEK-aISTybRIMUb8O059Xp6x3FxtQ8zDZVv4lRVo1KUBgJ8YaArkMEALw_wcB

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/

This puts to rest the argument that Anambra is not safe enough to host foreign visitors. Already, on the 8th of July 2022, just 4 months after his assumption of office as Governor, Soludo hosted Heads of Foreign Missions and DFIs in the State. Guess what, they came in a chartered flight to the State and left same day. The reason is very simple yet disappointing — no hotel in the State is of standard to host such caliber of persons. Today, under the current administration, Anambra now houses a UNDP office with promise to get more of this international organizations if the right kinds of structures and put in your place.

Government’s initial intervention in a structure like the Transcorp Hilton and its subsequent impact on FDIs has not vitiated the place of private investment in same sector. As Abuja now houses hotels benchmarking against the standards of the Hiltons. This is what the Anambra State government must do to get the ground ready for increased FDI inflow.

Project financing is the new face of most infrastructural intervention in the National and sub-national governments in Nigeria. This is what the Anambra State Government will be leveraging in carrying out game changing infrastructural projects.

I do not intend to engage so lengthy, as some critics would, because for every piece of falsehood one requires long essays of half truth to justify. But, the truth is straight and succinct, indubitable and devoid of emotions. This is what I will continue to leave my readers with, until the current administration concludes its round.