By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
In a recent development surrounding the controversial demolition of DATKEM Plaza in Ijebu Ode, the Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP), Comrade Olowu Olayemi Omokehinde, has raised a series of pointed questions for Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State.
The demolition, alleged to have targeted a property owned by Mrs. Olufunke Daniel, the wife of former governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has sparked a flurry of concerns and legal disputes. Omokehinde’s questions primarily revolve around the circumstances of the demolition, the use of suspected political thugs, and the apparent disregard for court orders, raising significant doubts about the transparency and legality of the operation.
This incident has ignited a heated debate in Ogun State, leaving many wondering about the motivations and legality of the demolition actions undertaken by the state government.
The Ogun State Government claims it took proactive measures by partially demolishing DATKEM Plaza, alleging that it was an illegal structure without an approved plan and that it violated the state’s physical planning laws. The plaza is said to be owned by Mrs. Olufunke Daniel, the wife of the state’s former governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
In a statement released on a Sunday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olayiwola Abiodun, the government cited numerous defects and violations of building codes as reasons for the action. It was also stated that the state had made efforts to halt further development on the site, including requesting an assessment of the building’s structural integrity, but these efforts were allegedly ignored by the developers.
However, a lawyer for Mrs. Olufunke Daniel, Mr. Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), asserted that the state government ignored court papers served on them on September 7, 2023, which prohibited the vandalization and demolition of DATKEM Plaza. Kotoye claimed that the demolition was carried out by suspected political thugs allegedly operating with the protection of some police officers in the early hours of a Sunday morning.
The Permanent Secretary, Olayiwola Abiodun, countered these claims by stating that the building lacked stage certification, which is typically issued at different stages of construction. He also emphasized that the owners had received multiple notices of abatement, contravention, stop work, and demolition between May and October 2022, which they had allegedly ignored.
Omokehinde posed several questions to Governor Dapo Abiodun regarding the incident, including why DATKEM Plaza was singled out for demolition, how many similar demolitions had occurred during his tenure, and the propriety of using alleged thugs in the demolition process.
He also questioned the timing of the demolition, which took place overnight on a Sunday, and the simultaneous pasting of a “notice of seal” while a court order stipulating the maintenance of the status quo was in effect. He further inquired why the individuals involved in the demolition allegedly fled as daybreak approached and why the governor was seemingly not obeying court orders.
As controversy swirls around the DATKEM Plaza demolition, the residents of Ijebu Ode and the broader public await further clarification from the government and the plaza’s owners, hoping for transparency and adherence to the rule of law in resolving this dispute.