Residents of Ketere, Abule Olodo and Ogo Oluwa communities in Sango/Ota, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, have called the state government’s intervention with regard to the plan by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to demolish their houses.
The people said some officials of the ministry had marked over 2,000 houses for demolition after the expiration of a seven-day quit of notice.
In a Save Our Soul, jointly signed by the Baale of Abule-Olodo, Chief Azeez Kareem and Balogun of Ijoko, Chief Muftaudeen Abolade and made available to the Nigerian Tribune, the residents disclosed that two notices were served them on the same day.
According to the letter, an order to produce an approved building plan within 24 hours was given them alongside a notice to vacate the premises.
The letter noted that the marking of their houses by persons who present themselves as government officials had created tension in the entire Sango/Ota.
“The area marked is the original Sango, and evicting residents would not only erase historical landmarks, but the entire Sango/Ota. The affected communities host other ethnic groups in Nigeria, including people from neighbouring African countries.
“The first primary school built over 70 years ago is among the houses marked, while the affected area hosts the only market, Kayero, which serves the entire Sango. Businesses worth billions of naira are being affected while house owners can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed.
“We are appealing to the governor to take a second look at the plight of landlords, residents and business owners within Ketere, Abule Olodo and Ogo Oluwa communities so as to save people from untimely death,” the letter said.
Meanwhile, in a meeting held by the people of the area at the weekend, Malam Bala, one of the affected residents, said Ketere is the only Hausa community in Sango and that houses in the area are owned by their forebears who never took them to the North where they originated.
According to him, Sango is the only place he and his people could regard as their home, adding that, “evicting us and demolishing our houses in Ketere is like taking our lives because we don’t have any other place to go.”
While commending the governor for fulfilling his pledge to the people of Ogun State, the residents further pledged their support for the government just as they called for his intervention in the matter.
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