Nigerian Senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, has condemned the latest round of demolition of houses in Ado-Ekiti by Governor Ayo Fayose.
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.
The Deputy Senate Minority Whip spoke on Thursday in a statement signed by the Director General of her campaign organization, Chief Bunmi Olugbade.
While commending Fayose for initiating urban renewal, Olujimi said “any development that will cause the citizens tears and hardship will usually backfire and provoke negative reactions.”
Mrs. Olujimi said: “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 o 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.
A source told our reporter that the governor said the compensation package was being worked out but the affected house owners maintained that they wanted full compensation and not peanuts.
Many residents of the area who have been displaced by the demolition of their buildings alleged that they have been disenfranchised by their forcible relocation to other places.
The beleaguered residents are relocating to places like Odo, Fagbohun, Ajebamidele, Oke Ureje, Emirin, Afao Road and Ilokun
One of them, who preferred anonymity, said: “We have valid land documents like building plan and survey plan and we will need full compensation to build houses elsewhere.
“But the entire residents of Ijoka have been displaced by the demolition of our structures because we cannot use our permanent voter.cards in new places where we were forced to relocate.
“This Ijoka is a densely populated area but none of us will come from our new places to vote on election day. I don’t think the governor realized this before he demolished our buildings.”