Popular musician Terry G, Channel O presenter Denrele, and
Nollywood actress Grace Amah and a host of other stars were yesterday, ejected
from their hotel in Abakaliki where the state government had lodged them.
The state government had staged a show at the weekend where it
honoured over 50 stars of Ebonyi State extraction in the entertainment
industry.
Some of those honoured are Cha Cha Ekeh, Grace Amah, and
Patoranking. Several other stars, including Denrele and Terry G performed at
the event.
But on Monday, some of the stars who attended the show were
forcefully ejected from the Osborn La Palm, where they were lodged by the State
Ministry of Tourism, organisers of the event.
The hotel is owned by the State Governor, Dave Umahi.
The stars were seen at the Government House, Abakaliki,
protesting the shoddy treatment meted out to them by the state government.
They said they entered into agreement with the government to be
paid a certain amount of money as appearance fee to which the state government
also reneged.
According to one of the artistes, Sholade; “Instead of them to
give us our return tickets and our appearance fee, they sent policemen to
forcefully eject us from our hotel rooms.”
It was gathered that the two cars whose keys were handed over to
Grace Amah and Patoranking by the State Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe at the
event, have not been delivered to the artistes, as the organisers were yet to
complete payment to the suppliers.
But, the Chairman of the organizing Committee, Dr Jerry Uhuo
denied the allegation and blamed it on information gap between the committee
and the stars.
He said, “The committee paid for four nights for the stars which
elapsed today (Monday) and the stars were given tickets to go back to their
bases.
“Some of them we are still processing their money and we told
them so. We agreed that
their consultant will stay back to collect the money while the
stars leave to catch their flight.
“But surprisingly, when it was time to go, they refused to leave
and instead went to government house to protest. They had already been checked
out so the hotel refused to allow them back into the rooms.
“We have intervened by going to make fresh bookings for them at
the hotel for those who wish to stay back.”
On the cars, Uhuo said the cars have been paid for but the
Committee wanted to brand them before handing them over to Grace while
Patoranking, who did not attend the event, will collect his whenever he visits
the state.
“Patoranking traveled to the U.S. and he didn’t send anyone to
represent him. So we reached him and he promised to come and pay a courtesy
call on the governor during which we will hand over the car personally to him,”
Uhuo said.
-The Nation
