OWERRI—Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, has performed the ground breaking and foundation stone laying of  Imo Wonderlake Resort and Conference Centre at  Oguta Lake site, Oguta local government area of the state.

Performing the ceremony, Chief Ohakim said the project, which would boost the economy of the state and create jobs for teeming youths, was an irreversible step towards making Imo a major tourism destination.

He, however, bemoaned the global economic meltdown which, according to him, stalled the early flag-off of the project.

He added that mischievous politicians who filed court injunctions and wrote fictitious petitions also frustrated the project.

Governor Ohakim enjoined the host community of Oguta ,especially the youths, to guard the facilities at the site and also co-operate with construction workers.

Earlier, Managing Director of the project, Mr. Chinedu Okpareke, thanked the governor for seeing greater potentials on the lake.

He disclosed that in partnership with financial institutions and hotel management consultants, the resort, which would be built in five phases, would in the first phase contain a five-star hotel, casino, golf course, gymnasium, amphitheatre, and parks and housing units in the second and third phase respectively.