Posted by By Gbenga Olarinoye on
THE 1.5billion naira Osun State Hotel located on the controversial land of Abere, Ede was yesterday destroyed by some people suspected to be aggrieved youths of the town.
OSOGBO - THE 1.5billion naira Osun State Hotel located on the controversial land of Abere, Ede was yesterday destroyed by some people suspected to be aggrieved youths of the town.
The attack on the government property came barely 24 hours after the youths of Ede community warned the state government to stop forthwith referring to Abere as Osogbo or be prepared for violence.
The Youth's spokeman, Mr Basiru Oyedemi while speaking with newsmen in Ede on wednesday argued that the state government had been fraudulently re-naming all the parcel of land belonging to Ede without maintaining its original names and identities.
They disclosed that they are not against the acquisition of the lands by government for the purpose of developing the state, 'but what we are against is the government changing the names of the villages"
Specifically, the youths said Abere village which is part of Ede community is currently housing both the Federal and State secretariats, Osun State House of Assembly Complex and legislative quarters.
'But to our dismay, all these properties were named after Osogbo whereas they were not sited in Osogboland. We are not against government acquiring our land for development, but original names must be maintained"
'when the Federal Government acquired land for the purpose of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), all the villages that fell within it retained their names. Garki was never changed, Apo, Asokoro, Gwarinpa and others did not have their names changed, so why this tactical move by the state government to change the name, Abere to Osogbo" the community asked.
However, the Youths made good their threat when about 500 of them stormed the Hotel Complex currently under construction, chased away the workers and pulled down the perimeter fence covering over 3.6kilometres.
A detachment of anti-riot policemen were later drafted to the troubled spot to forestall further destruction of properties at the site as well as breakdown of law and order.
Speaking with newsmen after the inspection of the damaged area, the Managing Director of Batiments Techniques Ltd, the company handling the project, Jean-Claude Lamoliatte, bemoaned the damage done to the site.
According to him, the estimate of the properties destroyed was over 25million naira and the company would put on hold any work on the project until nolmacy is returned to the area.
Speaking on the development, the Alabere of Abere, Alhaji Kareem Sanusi, accused the state government of not abiding within the limits of land granted the state government.