There is a strong indication that the staff of Lamonde Hotels and Lamonde Guest House both in Owerri receive their monthly salaries from the Imo State government.
The two hotels are two of the many business properties owned by the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
247ureports.com gathered from reliable sources that Governor Okorocha compelled the State Ministry of culture and tourism under the first commissioner, Mr Alex Ogwazuo to include the staff of Lamonde Hotels in the state government’s payroll.
Ogwazuo was removed last year as commissioner and is currently the new chairman of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC).
This, according to some of the sources, is the reason Ogwazuo was brought back to the Okorocha’s cabinet in order for him not to reveal the secrets after his scandalous performance in the ministry of tourism, where he impregnated three women with promises of marrying them.
None of the staff members of the two outfits volunteered to talk even on condition of anonymity.
But, it was learnt this has been going on since two years now, explaining the reason Lamonde Hotel, Okigwe Road Owerri, suddenly began competing with others in the city in terms of patronage.
The news came as the governor gave the people of the state the impression that he was a billionaire businessman and that he descended from his presidential aspiration to accept to rescue the people of the state.
It will be recalled that upon assumption of office, Governor Okorocha terminated the job of 10,000 youths employed by the state government under the administration of Chief Ikedi Ohakim.
