Demolished property owners beg Osun govt for compensation

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Shops and house owners demolished along MDS, Ola-Iya and Fakunle area of Osogbo, Osun State capital in 2013, on Monday, staged a peaceful protest over non-payment of their compensation by the state government. 

They appealed to the Gboyega Oyetola-led government to pay their compensation.

The protesters, who trouped out in large numbers stormed Government House at Oke-Fia, carrying placards with different inscriptions.

Addressing newsmen at the scene of the protest, spokesperson of the protesters, Mrs Funke Afolabi, said their buildings were demolished in 2013 by the state government

Afolabi said the affected owners were promised compensation by the state government, but all efforts to get it had proved abortive.

She said Governor Oyetola, who was the Chief of Staff to the then governor, Rauf Aregbesola, should understand their plight.

“We are begging the state government to listen to our voices. Our shops and houses were demolished by the state government for road constructions and we were promised that we will be compensated.

“But since 2013 till date, we are yet to get anything from government. We are appealing to the governor to listen to our cries and give us our compensation.

“For some us, the demolished shops and houses were our sources of livelihood. We are appealing to the government to help us out,” she said.

Reacting, Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, appealed to the protesters to be patient with the government.

Egbemode said compensation is a process and not what can happen overnight.

“The issue of compensation is a process and those who are due for it will get their compensation at the appropriate time.

“Government is aware of their plight and it will be resolved soon,” she said.