Owners of hotels in Ondo State have appealed to Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to intervene over the huge debt owed them by the state government.
Some of the hoteliers who spoke said the debt was for services rendered to the state government during the last governorship election, which held on 16 November 2024.
“During the last governorship election in the state, the government, through its protocol department, used our hotels. Money was not paid immediately as the tradition. But, surprisingly, we have waited for months now without any sign that the money would be paid any time soon,” an hotelier who pleaded anonymity said.
He said hotel business is very expensive to run owing to the nature of the hospitality business.
“Hotel business is not something you run on charity. You need money to regularly maintain your facility or you’ll go down if you are not careful, ” He added.
The hotels, however, unanimously exonerated the governor of any blame.
“We are not blaming the governor. He may not even be aware that the money owed us have not been paid.
“However, we are using this opportunity to appeal to Mr Governor to use his good office to intervene in this matter and rescue us from any impending bankruptcy. “
It would be recalled that during the election last November, all the hotels in the state, particularly in Akure, the state capital, were fully booked by both government and private people who were involved in various electoral activities.
