Three communities in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun on Monday, protested an alleged planned demolition of houses in the communities by the state government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesters including youths and the elderly stormed the state secretariat in Abeokuta to express their grievances on the planned demolition.

NAN also reports that the protesters carried placards with various inscriptions like: ” Leave our ancestral home for us”, “Gov. Dapo Abiodun please come to our aid”, “Don’t destroy our houses, don’t let our labours be in vain”, among others.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Olakunle Bodude, Community Head (Baale), Oguro village, listed the three communities affected by the alleged planned demolition to include Itori Mogan, Jaguna Mogan and Oguro Mogan.

Bodunde explained that several houses had been marked by the state government for demolition, noting that the communities remain their ancestral homes and have existed for over 300 years.

“We are pleading with the state government that they should not demolish our ancestral homes and buildings.

“We appeal to Gov. Dapo Abiodun to suspend the demolition notice. If those houses are demolished, where do you want us to go. We have elderly people and we have children.

“Our forefathers have established that place since 300 years ago . That’s why we are pleading with our governor to please leave us where we are,” he said.

A resident of the area, Mrs Folasade Omotayo, pleaded with the state government to have mercy, saying that the situation had been demoralising and had negatively affected everyone in the community.

Addressing the protesters, Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, Tunji Odunlami, noted that the state government would carefully look at the protesters requests.

Odunlami assured that the state government would treat their requests with compassion, noting that there would be a good resolution to all the matters raised.

“I want to assure you that this government is treating your concerns with compassion. We are confident that there will be a good resolution to all the matters they have raised.

“Definitely, the law is meant to be obeyed. There is a law in Ogun state which states that anyone who intends to build must first obtain the necessary permit.

“If you go against the law, the regulations will take their course. As I have said, this is a very magnanimous government. We look at every case on its own merit and then decide what action to take,” he said.

Odunlami however, stated that no development should be carried out in the state without obtaining the required permit, adding that constructing buildings without approval, especially on government-acquired land, constitutes a serious violation. (NAN)

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