…12 villages to be affected
By Adeyinka Adeniran
No fewer than 500 hundred houses have been demolished by the Oyo state government in its bid to acquire nearby lands within 500 metres to the Ibadan Circular Road.
In all, about 12 villages and communities are to be affected by the demolition exercise.
The demolition, it was gathered started on Tuesday along Badeku after series of notices had been served on the occupants to evacuate the earlier marked structures.
The affected communities are Fashade, Aba Osho, Igbalefa, Adigbe, and Badeku.
Others are: Akamo, Alase, Ojoku, Dare, Isase, Oleke Meji as well as Ogido, all within the Ona Ara local government area of the state.
Speaking, a community leader in one of the affected areas, Abdulfatal Amubikan confirmed that “about 500 houses have been demolished.”
He expressed disappointment in Governor Seyi Makinde noting that the demolition negates the assurance the governor gave to the residents when they protested to his office earlier in January.
He added that, the people had stayed calm hoping for amicable resolution of the issue within three months as requested for by the government when he met the residents.
Amubikan said, “This exercise came to us as a surprise. The governor had, during our peaceful protest to the Secretariat in January, promised that our houses will not be demolished. I was privileged to speak on behalf of others when we went there. We told him about what was pasted on our houses by the Ministry of Lands.
“And first, the governor promised that our houses will not be demolished, that we should go back to our various homes.
“Secondly, he promised to talk to the Commissioner for Lands and get back in three months’ time. That we should just give him (Makinde) three months to work on it, but we should be rest assured that the government will not demolish our houses.
“The government did not wait till three months (April) before it starts demolishing our houses.
“We expected that three months to lapse by next month (April) so as to meet the governor again about his promise. He also promised that government will compensate affected residents, and since yesterday (Tuesday) till today (Wednesday), about 500 houses have been demolished. And it is still ongoing exercise.”
Another victim, Usman Ikram, said, “I was not at home when the exercise began. It was one of our neighbors that called me that government had started demolishing my house. It was a bad experience I never either prayed for or expected in my life. I was crying within myself.
“Though, I still thank God because He knows everything. This situation makes me realize that there is nothing in this life. With the huge amount of money I committed on this project. I will still appeal to government to have a rethink about its decision because we don’t have anywhere to go.”
A 68-year old widow, Omowumi Akintoye also appealed to the government and governor to help them, adding that, “since I moved here in 2016, nothing has been added. It is still a room I built that I’m still managing with my only child. I never had the opportunity to complete the whole house, because there is no money.”
While some residents were seen trying to save little of what could gather, some others were seen wailing as many others just looked forlorn in uncertainty of what waits ahead.
Other residents were heard appealing to the governor to come to their aid.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Williams Akinfunmilayo, confirmed the ongoing demolition, saying the affected structures were built close to Circular Road.
He clarified that the government acquired 500 metres space to the road project on both right and left, adding that landlords with genuine documents would be compensated by the government.
He added that the structures affected so far were ones withing 100metres to 150metres to the Circular Road but assures that the government will compensate according those with genuine land documents.
Akinfunmilayo said, “I just enquired from the team that went there, and they said just a little over 50 were touched and some of the residents have even been removing the iron sheets before they got there. Nobody demolished 500 houses. And those buildings touched were ones about 100 to 150 metres from Circular road.
“Those who have genuine papers should come to the secretariat. The government will compensate them. What the government has acquired is 500 metres to the left and right. So, whoever is affected, with genuine papers, will be compensated.”
