Some residents of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital have condemned the demolition of the popular Ile Arugbo, allegedly owned by the late political icon, Dr Olusola Saraki, saying that the action is not part of the envisaged new level promises of the new administration.
This is just as the state government, through the state commissioner for Communications, Alhaji Murtala Olanrewaju, urged people not be drawn into emotional outburst targeted at distracting government from issues at stake.
The state government on wee hours of Thursday demolished the property located on plots 1, 3 and 5 Ilofa Road, GRA Ilorin, allegedly owned by the late Second Republic Senate Leader.
Some residents, who thronged the scene, decried the demolition of Ile Arugbo, saying that the government ought not to have carried out the demolition exercise early in the morning if actually, it was in good faith.
The people, who included aged women and youth, were seen weeping, saying that government had destroyed a house where they were taken care of.
It was gathered that security personnel, including men of the police, civil defence and army, allegedly fired gunshots and tear gas to disperse aged women and youth who had kept vigil on the property for three days, while the demolition was going on.
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However, the state commissioner for Communications, in a statement on Thursday said that the reclamation exercise began in the early hours of Thursday to avoid any needless confrontation.
“Attempters by some persons to provoke government’s agents on lawful duty were resisted by the security agents who exercised the highest level of restraint and professionalism.
“Contrary to the claim that the State Government was served court papers on the matter, we state that no court paper has been served as at the time the government took steps to preserve what lawfully belongs to the people.
“Finally, we urge the people of the state to remain calm, peaceful, an be guided only by facts of the matter and not be drawn into emotional outburst that is targeted at distracting the public from the issues at stake. While the administration is focused on restoring sanity to the state after years of barefaced impunity, we will do so within the limit of the law”, the statement said.
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