Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has begun the reconstruction of Climax Hotel and Bar, belonging to a former member of the Ondo State House of Assembly from Irele Local Government Area of the State, Hon. Afolabi Iwalewa.

Starnews NG reports that Climax Hotel and Bar was demolished by the officials of the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in December 2019.

The owner of the hotel had accused Dr Odebowale Doyin, Senior Special Assistant on Special Duty to the governor, in conjunction with Dr Badmus, the Ondo State Commissioner for Physical and Regional Planning as the principal executors of the demolished hotel.

It could be recalled that the owner of the hotel, Hon. Iwalewa, had last year told Starnews NG that governor Akeredolu was dealing with him because of his closeness to the State Deputy Governor, Barr. Agboola Ajayi and his friend, Jimmy Odimayo, who he said wanted to contest the gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressive Congress (APC) with the governor ahead of the election on October 10, this year.

While Hon. Iwalewa had alleged that he was suffering from a State attack for political reasons, the Ondo state government through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development said the demolished Climax Hotel and Bar was dismantled by the government because the premises was not used for the purpose which it was allocated for, in line with the Ondo state Building Rules and Regulations.

However, our visit to the site of the hotel on Saturday in Alagbaka, Akure, indicated that the reconstruction of the Climax Hotel and Bar was ongoing.

In a telephone interview with Starnews NG, the Managing Director of the hotel, Hon. Iwalewa credited the ongoing reconstruction to governor Akeredolu.

He said after meeting with governor Akeredolu through the Ondo State Head of Service, the governor said he was not aware of the demolition of the hotel because according to him, he only authorized the closure of the hotel pending the outcome of a thorough investigation.

”Yes, I can confirm to you that the reconstruction of my hotel is ongoing, courtesy of governor Akeredolu because he said he didn’t authorise the demolition after I met with him through a meeting facilitated by the head of service.”

”The governor told me he only asked them to seal off the place pending a thorough investigation because they lied to him that I converted government property to Climax Hotel and Bar.

”But after investigation and it became obvious that it was my personal property and not government property, the governor drove down himself to confirm that the hotel was actually demolished”.

”It was after this he ordered for the reconstruction immediately. I am happy and I thank God and Mr Governor for the new development because, without any means of livelihood, life is meaningless,” Iwalewa said.