In a rare show of anger, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has, in a strongly-worded statement, denied any connections to the collapsed Ikoyi 21-floor storey building.
The Vice President was reacting to publications in the Social Media which said that he, Osinbajo, bought the parcel of land on which the three towers, including the collapsed one, were built, from business mogul, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, owner of Elizade Motors, as soon as he became Nigeria’s Vice President
The impression was then created that he has a hand in the ownership of the buildings, and had spoken to the Lagos State Government of his interest in the Towers which made the Government to unsealed the property when it was first sealed for some, alleged, infractions.
Ade-Ojo had on Thursday, in a statement, denied ownership of the land at any point in time, and so, said he could not have sold it to the Vice President.
From Monday, November 1 when the building collapsed, efforts had been made to drag Osinbajo’s name into it, including reminding Nigerians that the now late Developer, Femi Osibona’s younger brother, works in the Vice President’s office.
But in a statement signed on his behalf by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, the Vice President said he had nothing to do with the Towers, and never spoke to the Lagos State Government to unseal the building. He said the story was a wicked, inhuman sponsored story with no basis at all, brimming with heartlessness towards the families of the dead.
Said Osinbajo: “The wickedness and viciousness of a lie that seeks to utilise a tragedy where so many people have lost their lives even as rescue efforts are on-going, and in wanton disregard to the feelings and untold grief of their loved ones for political gain, reveals a dangerous desperation, as well as the heartlessness of the perpetrators of such despicable lies.”
Following is the statement where the Vice President also mourned the dead, and condoled with their families.
IKOYI HIGH-RISE COLLAPSE: OSINBAJO SADDENED, CONDOLES WITH AFFECTED FAMILIES & DEBUNKS DESPICABLE LIES IN SPONSORED ONLINE REPORT
*VP has no interest whatsoever in said property
*All his property, assets already publicly declared
“Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, is saddened by the events that occurred in Lagos on Monday, 1st of November 2021, where a high-rise building under construction on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, collapsed. He condoles with the families and relatives of all those who have died, were injured or affected in the collapse. Prof. Osinbajo considers this painful loss of lives a horrible tragedy.
“Also, the attention of the Vice President has been drawn to an obviously sponsored falsehood regarding the recently collapsed building published by Sahara Reporters on November 4th, 2021, to the effect that:
“1. The VP owns the land upon which the collapsed building in Ikoyi stood.
“2. That the said land was sold to him by Chief Michael Ade. Ojo, Chairman of Elizade Motors; and
“3. That the Vice President, at some point, intervened with the regulatory authorities in Lagos State to unseal the said property.
“Let it be made absolutely clear that Prof. Yemi Osinbajo does not own and has never owned the said land.
“He has also never been involved, in any shape or form, in the development of this or any other land since he became Vice President.
“At no time whatsoever did the VP buy this or any other piece of land from Chief Michael Ade. Ojo, or entered into any transaction for the sale of that land or any other piece of land from Chief Ade. Ojo or anyone for that matter.
“All property and assets owned by the Vice President have been publicly declared.
“Also, the Vice President has never spoken to the Governor of Lagos State or any other official of the State Government regarding the unsealing of the said building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, which subsequently collapsed. He has, indeed, never acted to influence any other regulatory action on the collapsed building, or any other building for that matter, in Lagos State.
“The Vice President restates categorically that he has no interest whatsoever, and has never had any interest, either legally or beneficially, in the land, the building or development.
“The wickedness and viciousness of a lie that seeks to utilise a tragedy where so many people have lost their lives, even as rescue efforts are ongoing, and in wanton disregard to the feelings and untold grief of their loved ones for political gain, reveals a dangerous desperation, as well as the heartlessness of the perpetrators of such despicable lies.
“Sahara Reporters were undoubtedly well rewarded for their criminal and inhumane conduct. Typical of a hatchet job and deliberately irresponsible journalism, the publication was not signed by anyone.
“The Vice President has referred this disgraceful publication to his lawyers for prompt legal action.”
