In a startling revelation, Hon. Comr Salahudeen A Lukman, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former PDP Candidate for Ojomu/Balogun Constituency in Kwara State House of Assembly, has voiced strong condemnation over what he termed the “biggest fraudulent contract award” in the history of Nigeria. The controversy revolves around the alleged fraudulent renovation contract for Kwara Hotel, costing a staggering 71.2 million Naira per room.
Expressing deep concern, Hon. Lukman announced his intent to lead a peaceful protest to the presidential villa, seeking the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. Lukman contends that the Kwara State cannot afford to ignore what he describes as a monumental fraud under the regime of Governor Mallam Abdulrasak Abdulraman.
Lukman highlighted the suspicious nature of the contract, emphasizing that the cost of renovating and remodeling each room far exceeds the reasonable estimates for constructing a new 5-star hotel in major cities like Abuja or Lagos. He argues that the awarded contract, re-awarded to Craneburg Construction Company, a foreign entity, constitutes the biggest financial crime committed by the government against its people.
The controversy deepens as Lukman draws attention to the previous concession of Kwara Hotels to Crystal Group of Companies. According to documents from Harmony Holdings Limited, the initial terms included a 3 billion Naira commitment by Crystal Group for renovation and management. However, the Kwara State Executive Council allegedly re-approved the contract for renovation to Craneburg Construction Company at the exorbitant rate of 71.2 million Naira per room.
The gravity of the situation, as outlined by Lukman, includes the overinflated cost of the contract, the relegation of local contractors in favor of a foreign company, and suspicious engagements with Craneburg Construction Company on multiple projects amounting to 27 billion Naira.
Lukman asserts that these actions constitute unforgivable sins against the people of Kwara, and he vows to continue speaking out against what he perceives as a betrayal of trust and confidence in the prudent management of Kwara’s resources. The opposition leader remains undeterred by threats and intimidation, declaring that the governance of Kwara is a collective responsibility that transcends party lines.
HIS FULL STATEMENT
71.2M PER ROOM KWARA HOTEL FRAUDULENT RENOVATION CONTRACT; YOU HAVE COMMITTED UNFORGIVABLE SINS AGAINST KWARA PEOPLE. I SHALL LEAD A PROTEST TO PRESIDENT TINUBU FOR INTERVENTION.
Like every concerned citizen of the State of Harmony, I have continued to register my displeasure regarding what is termed as the biggest fraudulent contract award in the history of Nigeria, occurring in Kwara under Mallam Abdulrasak Abdulraman’s regime. I have come to the conclusion to lead a peaceful protest to the Presidential Villa to seek President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR’s intervention in this monumental fraud in the new year. Kwara State can’t afford this huge monument contract scandal to go unchecked.
After all, President Tinubu played a pivotal role in the installation of the most corrupt leadership regime in Kwara in 2019 during the Otoge struggle. It won’t be out of place to seek his intervention to help Kwarans caution Governor Abdulrahaman on this controversial and biggest fraudulent contract scandal ever.
Besides, since freedom of expression is no longer guaranteed in Kwara State, as the government uses law enforcement agencies to clamp down on every dissenting voice, my choice of Abuja being the seat of power and Mr. Governor’s new base since assuming the NGF chairman role remains the best.
If building a brand new 5-star hotel from scratch in a major city like Abuja or Lagos costs less than a billion Naira according to experts, there is no gainsaying that the renovation and remodeling of the 250 rooms Kwara hotel at 71,200,000 per room is a monumental fraud and the biggest financial crime a government has ever committed against its people and the state it swore an oath to govern with sincerity.
It’s mind-blowing to have the same hotel already conceded according to Harmony Holdings Limited, which published an invitation for expressions of interest in The Herald newspaper on October 18, 2020, to fix and operate the 172-room Kwara Hotels facility which turned into 250 rooms in the new approval. Harmony Holdings Limited clearly stated that the Kwara State Executive Council had approved the concession of Kwara Hotels to Crystal Group of Companies on a Fix and Operate basis.
The Terms of Engagement cited in the offer letter included the commitment of the sum of N3 billion by Crystal Group of Companies for the renovation and management of the hotel; the payment of concession fees for the first five years, and revenue profit-sharing for the subsequent years. The award letter further stated that “Harmony Holdings Ltd shall pass an unencumbered property to Crystal Group of Companies, particularly regarding outstanding liabilities to the tune of N359,880,782.68 million.” As well, it sent the approval to the State House of Assembly for their resolution on the same.
But suddenly, the Kwara State Executive Council, who appears confused or lacks understanding of the contract award system in the country, RE-APPROVED the same hotel for renovation and remodeling to another company, Craneburg Construction Company, a foreign company at 71.2m/room.
There is no fraud bigger than this ever in the history of Kwara State’s existence.
Kwara indigene home and Diaspora must rise to stop this monumental fraud. Governor Abdulrahaman Abdulrasak has committed unforgivable sins against Kwara with this biggest fraudulent controversial contract award.
1. Award and re-award of the biggest over-inflated controversial contract in the history of Kwara State from 3BN awarded to 17.8BN Re awarded.
2. Relegation of local contractors, placing a foreign company over local ones who can do it better, cheaper, and recirculate Kwara money within the Kwara economy.
3. Suspicious engagements of a sole foreign company with 3 white elephant projects at outrageous amounts to the tune of 27 billion, including Unity flyover and road construction.
4. Betrayal of Kwara people’s trust and confidence in the prudent management of Kwara resources as against the oath of office he swore when assuming office.
These sins are so grave that they are unforgivable; they form part of history, except Governor Abdulrahaman Abdulrasak reverses this fraudulent contract.
We won’t stop speaking no matter the threats, intimidation, and harassment. Kwara is our collective home; we have no other origin but Kwara, hence its governance is the collective responsibility of both the ruling and opposition.
Signed,
Hon. Comr Salahudeen A Lukman
Eluku OmoAdugbo
31st December 2023
