Market men and women at Bola Ige International Market Ibadan
the Oyo state capital have urged Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State to
quickly intervene and come to their rescue over the unjust revocation and
demolition of a parcel of land belonging to late Deacon Israel Olanrewaju.
The said land which was sold to the business mogul in February
2008 by the ministry of commerce under Dr. Kola Balogun during the tenure of
the former governor of the state Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala later became a
subject of controversy to which the state House of Assembly ordered the then
commissioner Dr. Balogun not to revolve the allocation of the land.
The land which has been developed as a shopping
complex before the demise of the late business man was allegedly demolished by
the incumbent commissioner for Trade, Investment and Commerce Bar. Kazeem
Adedeji after it was sold to two traders in the market Mutiyat Oyo and Alh. Tajudeen
Kamarise.
Representatives of the concerned traders under the
umbrella of Human Right-Activists Group Bola Ige International Market New Gbagi
Ibadan who spoke with our correspondent in Ibadan on Monday said the late
deacon who was a member of the council of elders in the market had paid all his
levies concerning the shopping complex alleging that commissioner for commerce
had decided to join forces with some former PDP members in the state to take
over the land on which the complex was situated while directed the demolition
of the complex hoping to erect a new structure on the land.
The spokesperson for the traders Comrade Odunayo
Danjuma who is also the women leader of PRONACO in the state appealed to the
governor to quickly intervene adding that the marker council of elders, women
and youths forums, human-rights activists in the market, former speaker of the
state House of Assembly Hon. Moruf Atilola , town planning office, and the
former chairman of the State House of assembly on commerce Hon. D. A. Lawal could
also be invited for clarification.
Danjuma who shown our correspondent copies of
documents of ownership by the late deacon said it is unfortunate that the land
erected with modern day complex was later revoked and demolished on the
directive of the commissioner after it was sold to former friend of the
businessman. She said the late deacon could not ripe its fruits before he died.
She reiterated the support for the governor in his
developmental agenda as she refuted some claims that the market activists were
against the demolition of some illegal
structures in the market by the commissioner for commerce adding that their
concern is to protect the interest of all and sundries in the market.
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| THE PARCEL OF LAND |
All efforts by our correspondent to speak with the
commissioner proved abortive as at the time of fill in this report.
