The Peoples Against Corruption and Injustice (PACI), Bankole Solomon, has condemned Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration for the partial demolition of DATKEM Plaza in the Ijebu Ode area of the state.
The building is owned by a former first lady of the state, Olufunke Daniel.
The group described the demolition exercise as an executive rascality.
In a statement issued by its President, Bankole Solomon, on Monday, PACI asked the state government to state the number of weeks given to the owners of the building before the demolition.
It lamented the high rate of unemployment in the country and the fate of those working at the plaza.
SaharaReporters on Sunday reported that the state government demolished the plaza which reportedly cost about N1 billion, the construction of which started in 2009 and was scheduled for inauguration at the end of September 2023.
The Project Manager and Developer, Adeolumi Environmental Services Ltd, Engr. Olusegun Lawal, who handled the project, in his preliminary report, said the reasons given by Governor Abiodun’s administration for demolishing the plaza included “not enough parking space”.
Others are inadequate Muster Point – any space outside the building where people can gather in case of fire or emergency and “Inadequate Airspace”.
But PACI said, “Who authorized the building? Who approved the papers and certified them ok before the commencement of the building? Where is the red mark always placed on unapproved buildings and how many weeks was given before the demolition?
“As much as Ogun state CSO is not interested in the politics of hatred and calumny, we won’t fold ourselves for any tier of government that wants to become a tyrant and dictator under any guise.
“We are not an appendage of any political parties and as the state chairman, I am not in anybody’s payroll, but all we are after is nothing but good governance and we are committed to seeing that economic and social rights are not violated.
“What is the fate of those poor masses working there? What is the fate of those who must have been there and paid for a space there? We are talking of unemployment and some rascals are pulling (a) business building down so as to prove a point.
“If not for anything, Ogun state civil society groups and pro-democracy will resist any form of illegality and dictatorship.
“I hereby call on the Ogun state government, especially Governor Dapo Abiodun, to come out and issue a clear position on the subject matter and if not, he is our number one suspect.”
