APC, PDP Senator Lament Fayose’s Demolition Of Houses In Ekiti
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State and the Senator representing Ekiti South in the National Assembly, Mrs Biodun Olujimi have slammed Governor Ayodele Fayose over demolition of houses in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The APC condemned the governor for allegedly ordering the demolition of several houses to give way to road construction and New Oja Oba Market in the state capital with many residents losing their homes and personal effects to demolition without notice and compensation.
In a statement by the APC publicity secretary, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party also berated Fayose over his alleged unruly conduct to the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi, over the monarch’s complaint on house demolition that has rendered hundreds of people homeless in the town.
Faulting the governor’s action without prior notice while paying pittance to victims of the demolition, Olatunbosun said the governor was insincere in his assertion that house demolition had become imperative to make Ado-Ekiti a befitting state capital.
“The truth is that house demolition is a viable business opportunity for the governor after facts have emerged that those that Fayose had so far paid for losing their homes got a small fraction of the figures that the governor quoted for compensation from the Federal Government as refund on flyover project.
“Like Fayose threatened while harassing the monarch in his palace, he will continue to demolish more houses because that is a good business for him to make money as he prepares to serve out his term on October 16, 2018.”
While noting that this was not the first time that the governor will be using “uncouth language” in addressing the frontline monarch, he warned the governor to stop desecrating the palace, saying royal fathers represented the spiritual authority of the people in their communities for peace and development.
Olujimi, who is a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, said physical development is a welcome development but should be done with human face.
In a separate statement signed by the Director General of her campaign organization, Chief Bunmi Olugbade, Olujimi who commended Fayose for initiating urban renewal, however said “any development that will cause the citizens tears and hardship will usually backfire and provoke negative reactions.”
Stressing that the ongoing demolition was ill-timed coming at a situation when workers and pensioners are owed arrears of salaries and benefits “Ekiti being a civil service state.” Olujimi added, “In advanced democracies, government will do enumeration and valuation of compensation to be paid to those who will be affected by such demolition, provide temporary accommodation for them and give them enough time to relocate before demolition.
“I want to appeal to those who are affected and I want to promise that the PDP government under my leadership will put smiles on the faces of the people rather than tears.”
“Finally, I want to appeal to the people of Ekiti State to embrace the PDP continuity agenda of ensuring that a PDP government is installed rather than a third term agenda of an individual.”
Meanwhile, Fayose later on Wednesday paid a visit to some families affected by the demolition in Ijoka area of Ado-Ekiti, the epicenter of the exercise.
The governor, according to a source said the compensation package was being worked out but the affected house owners maintained that they wanted full compensation and not peanuts.
