OBJ rushes 250-bedroom Hotel


Two years after the much-celebrated Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) launch, the former president may have had a brainwave over the project, preferring now to rush the five-star hotel that would spin mega bucks. The library wing of the project has, therefore, dropped to the bottom of his priority list.

The hotel, said to be of five star standard, is on the site of the OOPL in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Workers on site say it is a 250-bedroom edifice that is nearing completion.
Leading business moguls like Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr. and Mr. Femi Otedola had contributed generously to over N5 billion raised on a single day in 2005 for the N6 billion project.

Given the zeal with which the former president is pursuing the hotel wing of the project, it has become the subject of discussion and gossip in Abeokuta.
His kinsmen, in particular, feel scandalized that the former President now prefers to speed up work on the hotel – a commercial venture - not the non-profit library project that the public contributed money to help him build.

Said a resident of the area who craved anonymity: "Nigerians were deceived by the former President, that he was raising money for a library. But now, two years after, we have all seen the real reason Baba was raising money.

"In an ideal society, the former President would have been made to tell the whole world why he diverted money collected for a library project to something else. Only God will save Nigeria from greedy leaders like our Baba from Owu."
The OOPL was launched with fanfare May 14, 2005 while Obasanjo was still a sitting president, infuriating Lagos lawyer Chief Gani Fawehinmi to take him to court arguing that he (Obasanjo) abused his office and violated the constitution in initiating the project.

At the launch, movers and shakers of corporate Nigeria donated generously, hence insinuations in some quarters of "scratch my back, I scratch yours" deal.
Thus, Fawehinmi challenged the Federal High Court in Abuja to order the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate all the contracts awarded by the Federal Government from 1999 to date "in so far as the donors of the gifts of money received at the launch of the Presidential Library at Abeokuta, Ogun State on May 14, 2005 are involved in such contracts and for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to take appropriate actions against the President and the donors."

He also urged the court to declare that the gift of money to the President at the launch by various contractors to government and other beneficiaries of government policies and programmes including oil firm majors, consortium of banks and others which were benefiting or had benefited from policies and programmes of President Obasanjo’s government contravenes Section 15 (5) of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, Obasanjo has, in another business-related matter, sent signals that he still wields influence despite being out of office.

This concerns the dealership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) Mega Station in Abeokuta, which he lost in July to one Mr. Idowu Togun, until recently Special Assistant to Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, on Oil and Gas.
Obasanjo had lost the bid to reclaim the premium filling station after the incidence of financial mis-management was reported at the station under the supervision of the Obasanjo Holdings Limited (OHL).
The fraud led to staff shake-up in the station, following which several people, including an Alhaji, were quizzed by the EFCC.

The Alhaji, who then held a sensitive position in the OHL, was said to have been released following the intervention of some board members of the company who feared that he might "spill the bean."
At that time, even though Chevron, the managing partner of the station, was willing to do business with the OHL, Sunday Sun learnt that the large-scale fraud running into millions of Naira and allegedly masterminded by the OHL staff was the company’s albatross.

This led to the appointment of another Station Manager, Mr. Togun.
Togun was said to have been interviewed in June along with others, including the former Commissioner for Community Development and Co-operative, Pastor Abiodun Sanyaolu, at the McCarthy Street office of Chevron Oil Nigeria Plc, Onikan, Lagos.
The eventual appointment of Togun, a London-trained Oil and Gas expert, fuelled speculation that the state government might have acquired substantial shares in the oil business.

But Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Daniel, Mr. Wale Adedayo, denied the involvement of the state government in the petroleum transaction.
However, the resignation of Togun penultimate week was said to have been facilitated by the General Manager (Retail) of the NNPC, who was allegedly instructed by former Group Managing Director (GMD), Mr. Funsho Kupolokun (before the latter was booted out of office) to "do everything humanly possible to hand the Mega station back to the former President."
In compliance with the directive, Togun was said to have been advised by "the powers that be" in the state not only to resign his appointment in government, but also "to leave the petrol station business in his own interest".

"It was in his own interest and that of the state government that Togun had to leave the mega station for Baba. The thinking is that Governor Daniel, who knows nothing about the deal, is suspected to be the one that facilitated the appointment of Togun," a source told Sunday Sun.
"The way I see it, it appears as if Togun’s appointment constitutes an impediment to the cordial relationship that exists between Governor Daniel and Baba. When two elephants fight, who suffers?" an aide of the governor asked rhetorically.

With Togun’s resignation, the coast now appears clear for the OHL to take over the Mega Station. Already, a man simply identified as Pastor Olaniyan of the Obasanjo Farm Nigeria (OFN) has been penciled down for the lucrative job.
The fraud that rocked the petrol station before Obasanjo’s firms - IBAD and OHL - lost out was in form of diverted oil products worth about N95 million, part of which (about N75 million) was said to have been refunded to the station.

One of the subsidiaries of Obasanjo Holdings in Igboora (Oyo State) was said to have been a beneficiary of the deal which was not accounted for.
Details of how the Mega Station was run under the leadership of the former dealer, Alhaji Lateef Aremu, was given in Abeokuta last week.
The former dealer who operated under IBAD Limited, a subsidiary of the OHL and the former Accountant of the station, were alleged to have defrauded the company including the Chevron and Texaco by forging a bank rubber stamp.

With the rubber stamp, they allegedly authenticated tellers to deceive unsuspecting auditors (Chevron/Texaco). It was also intended to serve as make up for the accounts and monies not lodged.
Sunday Sun learnt that the affected Accountant confessed to auditors that the fraud had been on since April 2006.

The disclosure raised several questions, some of which were why did the Accounts department of the NNPC (Retail Headquarters), Abuja, failed to report the anomalies since April 2006, in their monthly reconciliation?


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At official age of over 70, (I personally believe he may be 90+) I wonder why this man is so crazy about acquiring wealth. Does he think he would have a second term of a lifetime? The fact that this man, as president,  used his position to hoodwink people and collect money from them under the pretext of building a presidential library and now diverting the money to build a five star hotel, tells much about the kind of man OBJ is.

the fool and his money soon pathed ways.

who is going to 5-star hotel in Abeokuta?

Gateway Hotel abekouta has not turned any reasonable profit. If the hotel were to be in Lagos/abuja, it would be different story.

The Hotel is definitely not Obasanjo's personal property abi is it?

Is it better to build e revenue generating hotel that can contribute towards the building of the non-profit Library in the event of shortage of capital or the non income generating Library should be built first, then when there's not enough money to complete the project, they should go begging again.

Those of us who have never executed such a project would not know that generating adequate income is a higher priority than serving humanity. If you run out of income with which you want to serve humanity, you will FAIL!

When I take over the government soon, that OBJ's 250-bedroom Hotel will become the hall of residence of Moshood M.K.O. Abiola University that we are going to establish in Ogun State.

The world will see our revolution live on the CNN and online.

denex:

The Hotel is definitely not Obasanjo's personal property abi is it?

Is it better to build e revenue generating hotel that can contribute towards the building of the non-profit Library in the event of shortage of capital or the non income generating Library should be built first, then when there's not enough money to complete the project, they should go begging again.

Those of us who have never executed such a project would not know that generating adequate income is a higher priority than serving humanity. If you run out of income with which you want to serve humanity, you will FAIL!

Denex; I will say a good prayer for you. Someday, you will begin to understand issues instead of putting your half-baked opinion forward.

The library is a non-profit program which is supposed to showcase the achivements of a president in office.
It is usually suggested after the terms of office of the imcumbent president.
In the case of Obasanjo, it was his baby. Another white elephant project to siphon money away from the people into a 'chop chop' greedy scheme.

The hotel is Obasanjo's personal commercial scheme to make more money for him and him alone. This greedy buffoon knows nothing but to stch away more money for himself. Unfortunately, he will never spend any of it. Like the fool in the bible who seems contended after laying filthy loot for himself, God will call him away and his loot will go to others.

Still yet EFCC is fighting corruption in Nigeria. Diversion of Fund

Please we need a 5 star hotel in Nigeria. This is just another media stunt. can some people start thinking outside of the box here. BIgBI what if he took a loan from a bank to contribute to the development of his state by building this hotel what is wrong with that? he is no longer a public figure and he can invest in whatever he so please to. After all this is Democratic government. How much investment did you father IBB invested in MInner beside his mansion?

When OBJ solicited and got donations to build the library, did he inform the donors that the funds would be diverted to building a 5 star hotel? That is the fundamental question here. If he did thats OK otherwise he had obtained money by deceit which is called 419.

Building a library Vs building a 250 bedroom hotel

Building a library: This is a comprehensive non profit organization put together or set apart to serve the citizens of a nation, by providing books, periodicals, and other material for reading, viewing, listening and borrowing.
In-short, the main purpose and advantage of building this library is to empower the educational standard or knowledge level of all students and other people from this area. And I'm sure this was also one of the reasons why many Nigerian icons have contributed vigorously toward implementing this project in Abeokuta.
Moreover, the benefit of building this library stays forever and multiplies by touching many future generation of our nation.

Building a 250 bedroom hotel: Yes, this is also another way to contributing toward the development of an area. Through this project, employment opportunity will definitely increase and it will also boost or stimulate tourism activities in this area; which in return will also be of an advantage to the locals.
But the big question is: who gets the income that will be generated from this establishment?
Answer: OBJ Inc.

We all have some kind of justification for this move, but to me this move absolutely indicates pure excessive insatiableness.
As a former president and at this very old age, most people will dedicate the rest of their lives to implementing different types of humanitarian projects, not building 250 bedroom hotel.

We should take some time out and study the involvement of the following individuals and discover what I'm trying to say:
1. Jimmy Carter
2. Nelson Mandela
3. Bill Clinton and many more.

Just because all those people you listed choose to embark on their humanitarian mission does not mean any one of the age of 70 should do the same. fingers are not equal and who are we to judge OBJ on what he does decide to do with his money?

in comparison. How old is your father IBB?

what has he done to the development of Minner people?

Atiku we all know as a corrupt leader, but at least he built a state of the art school in Minner.

After all we do practice democracy and if you have the means who can build a LovePeddler house if you so choose to.

Wont this hotel provide employment opportunities for locals in this region?

mamajama,
i will bet my life in argueing that u live in the usa.
you post all sorts of shits here.
i saw u post the pic of ibb's house asking where he got the money to build the house.
is obj living in a mosque or church?
is ibb's house more expensive than obj's transcrop, library, uttah farm and his hotel or is it not possible that the same bank that gave obj loan might have given loan to ibb to build his house.
if you are talking about employment, are u saying ibb is not employing anyone in his house even gardners and cooks or are u saying all those people efcc are arresting did not employ anybody?
you have justifications for obj's loots while u believe ibb shld be killed.
impossible, ibb and obj are birds of a feather and efcc knows why they cannot go to him.
how many times did obj sent ibb on international assignments as an elder statesman.
the simple truth is that in the past eight years from obj to the last ward councessellors, they all looted and if there is any sure war against corruption in nigeria, people will still not be fighting and killing to become leaders especially in the pdp but for the simple fact that they still see leadership in nigeria as the easiest way to wealth, the story continues

chidichris or what ever you call yourself. you are just a child seeking attention at all cost. IBB sponsored OBJ and we know why IBB has not been prosecuted by OBJ. Who liberated corruption in Nigeria? when was the 1st political killing took place in Nigeria? We have proof against IBB but with OBj i can careless if he goes to jail for stealing. Stop associating me with all this people.

chidichris:

mamajama,

is ibb's house more expensive than obj's transcrop, library, uttah farm and his hotel or is it not possible that the same bank that gave obj loan might have given loan to ibb to build his house.

Is there a company with the name TRANSCROP in Nigeria?

Where is this UTTAH farm sef? I have seen this written over and over again by the same person that I am beginning to wonder if OBJ has a secret farm somewhere with the name UTTAH