SOME landlords, in Osogbo, Osun State capital whose buildings were demolished during the dualisation project of Old Garage-Ila Odo expressway, on Thursday urged Governor Rauf Aregbesola to pay them their compensation, estimated at N2billion without further delay.
The landlords, numbering over 1,000 said the state government implored the state government to fulfil its promise of paying them compensation with a view to checkmating needless deaths and sufferings occasioned by the demolition of their properties in 2013 and 2014.
Addressing a press conference in Osogbo, the spokesperson of the landlords, Mr Moshood Oladejo recalled that “Aregbesola held meetings with us before the conduct of 2014 governorship poll, with a promise to pay us compensation for our buildings and structures demolished. We are asking for our rights and not begging the government to give us money”.
According to him, “it is on record that government of Ogun, Ondo and Oyo states that demolished properties of people during the course of projects implementation have paid compensation to all the victims whose houses and shops were affected by the demolition which was carried out to pave way for capital projects”.
While lamenting that some of them have died, while others have been bedridden, Oladejo who is the chairman Association of Landlords and Landladies Orita Ayetoro, Baba Onisekere, Igbona, Mosalasi Gaji, Ajegunle, Old Garage, MDS, Olaiya and Fakunle area stated that “they made promise to us before the last governorship poll in 2014, but up till now our compensation remain unpaid. This quite unfair”.
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Some of the landlords, who spoke during the press conference implored the state government under the leadership of Aregbesola to consider their plights and pay them compensation, with a view to reducing their hardship.
One of the landlords, Mrs Mariam Abiona hinted that her nine shops and four bedroom flat were demolished around Rasco area of Osogbo in December 2013, lamenting that no compensation had been paid by the government over the properties.
Another property owners affected by the demolition, Alhaja Aolatu Adefunke said her 48 shops were demolished around Fakunle, Olaiya and MDS area, pointing out that previous meetings held with the governor and the Speaker of the Osun State, Hon Najeem Salaam have failed to yield positive results, regarding payment of compensation.
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