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HIGH-TENSION COMMERCIAL PEOPLE – 2016

The executives of the Association of Artisan Traders, Powerline Bus-stop Igando Road, came to our office in their pools of blood demanding that we help them get justice for the injustice meted out to them by the Executive Secretary of Ikotun-Egbe LCDA Hon. Olowoopejo and the son of Oba of Isheri better known as Omo Oba. They made us to understand that the government had refused any serious kind of solid structure under the high-tension and they just stay there to do their vulcanizing, washing of car, petty trading etc. Evidence and receipt for the land use taxes which they all had paid for the year were also tendered to us. Suddenly, they saw the Omo Oba and the Executive Secretary came to serve the association letter to leave the place in a week. They held meeting and wrote them back with photocopies of the payment receipt the very next day but it was not honored. They went to the police station (Area M) to make a report, which they sent an officer Mr. Okon who came and inspected there, promising they will handle it but nothing was done and on the said date those people were all beaten to almost point of death, caterpillar was used to destroy their table, canters, equipment etc. We snap them and asked them to go for treatment at Akowonjo health center. We wrote to the governor, his Excellency Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to look into it as a father, also letters were sent to the Speaker, House of Assembly and Comm. sOf Police etc. We implored them to stay calm even though they have started the building already, we were monitoring and within two weeks a couple of blocks of shops where ready for rent. We went there to enquire about the rent; the Omo Oba himself told us we will buy two shops for N2.5m, while single shop goes for N1.4m. We asked what if the government comes and destroy it after payment, he said we should pray we recover our money before then.

We wrote another letter to the office of the governor and after two weeks, we got information that the government will come to demolish those building the very next day. That very next day though it rained heavily from the previous night, the demolition trucks came pulling down all those building people had fully paid for and filled with goodies, despite the warning that we give when we came there, even the reporters from Punch and The Point newspapers that featured the story warned the public not to get involved in it. From Isheri to Council roundabout, the exercise continued.

The association members were happy for justice meted out by the government of his Excellency Gov. Ambode to the defaulters. Other discussions went on concerning how they will be compensated.

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