Demolition: Ekiti landlords protest over N82.6m unpaid compensation

Some indigenes and property owners at the demolished Ijoka Quarters in AdoEkiti, Ekiti State capital, have staged another protest over property worth N82.6 million pulled down by the state government for the construction of a bus terminal.

The protesters, who carried placards with varying inscriptions, visited the bus terminal construction site and the palace of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, to express their grievances.

Their

spokesman,

Afolabi Ogunsakin, accused Governor Kayode Fayemi of not being committed to pay their compensation after being evicted at short notice.

He said, “Our dear ancestral home was demolished in 2016 by the state government without consideration for hardship and negative effects that we will experience.

“All negotiations regarding payment of compensation to members have been fruitless. After several appeals, it became clear that the government is not ready to pay us our entitlements. It is also clear that the delay in payment of our entitlements is deliberate.

“The community wants to state categorically here that henceforth steps will be taken to disturb workers on site. We are ready to damn the consequences until the government pays us our entitlements.”

The state’s Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Diran Adesua, promised that the state government would begin the process for the payment of their compensation next week Tuesday.

The Omosio of Ado Ekiti, Chief Opeyemi Abiola, promised to deliver the message of the protesters to Oba Adejugbe, who was not available.