Jonathan Slams Governors for Abandoning Predecessors’ Projects, Calls It ‘Waste in Governance’
Story: written by Peterson October 16,2025
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has criticized the persistent habit among Nigerian governors of abandoning projects started by their predecessors, describing it as a major source of waste and poor governance across the country.
Jonathan made the remarks on Wednesday while commissioning the Best Western Plus Hotel in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, lamenting that many of the development projects he initiated as governor of the state were left incomplete or neglected by subsequent administrations.
He explained that the failure to continue viable public projects not only wastes taxpayers’ money but also stalls progress and discourages investment.
“As the first elected deputy governor of Bayelsa State, the then governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, began hosting the African Movie Awards ceremonies, which attracted international celebrities from the U.S. and South Africa,” Jonathan recalled.
“Unfortunately, at that time, most of the guests had to stay in Port Harcourt because there were no suitable hotels in Bayelsa. The goal of promoting tourism is to ensure visitors spend money within the state to grow the local economy. When government funds such events and the revenue benefits another state, it becomes a negative investment,” he added.
Jonathan revealed that during his tenure, his administration approved contracts for a five-star Tower Hotel and two three-star hotels aimed at improving accommodation and tourism infrastructure in Bayelsa.
He expressed disappointment that those projects were later abandoned, noting that their completion would have turned Yenagoa into a thriving destination for investors and tourists.
Jonathan’s comments reignite the national debate on policy continuity, a recurring challenge in Nigeria’s governance system, where newly elected leaders often discard existing projects for political reasons rather than public benefit.
