Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has denied the suggestion that the demolition of a property supposedly belonging to the wife of a former governor of the state was for political purposes.
The governor spoke after a high court in Ijebu-Ode gave an order stopping the state government from going ahead with the demolition.
The incumbent has been accused of pursuing a political vendetta against one of his predecessors after some officials from the state Ministry of Physical Planning demolished a section of DATKEM Plaza, a property belonging to Olufunke, wife of former Governor Gbenga Daniel,
The high-rise property is located at the heart of Abeokuta the state capital,
The state helmsman has now debunked the claim that the feud between him and Daniel led to the demolition.
Abiodun who spoke on Monday during an inspection of the reconstruction of the 8km Mowe/Ofada Road in the Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of the state, said the building did not follow due process.
He said the government is ready to take action against anyone who breaks the law without regard to status, saying the law is not a respecter of influential people.
According to him, “The law is not a respecter of VVIPs or VIPs. Nobody is above the law. The law took its cause.
“The owners of DATKEM in their minds must have felt they were above the law because they were actually recalcitrant.
“ It smirks of impunity if the Ministry of Physical Planning sends you a contravention order, sends you a sealing order and you continue with the construction in violation of the safety of all of us in Ogun state.
“They sent you a demolition order, but you still did not respond. You begin to sneak into the building at night. You begin to work there.
“You begin to attempt to grease palms so that they can overlook your contraventions. But, of course, the day of reckoning would always come.”
Ruling on the matter brought by Olufunke against the state government, Justice N. O Durojaiye in his ruling directed all the parties to maintain the status quo.
“I have perused the application and the documents attached thereto. I am of the opinion that the application for Interim Injunction as it were should be considered.
“I therefore direct parties in this case to maintain Status quo on the property as of today the 11” of September, 2023.”
Governor Abiodun and Daniel have been at loggerheads since the former came to office in 2019. But the feud got worse after the former governor accused the incumbent of working against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, during the last presidential election on February 25, 2023.
Abiodun was a strong backer of former Vice President Osinbajo for the APC presidential ticket.
