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Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose is embroiled in a fresh controversy in his home town of Afao-Ekiti over the demolition of the Omotoso family house at 7, Oke Iro Street.
In the demolition, which started at 3am, remains of family members who were buried in the building were excavated.
The family members are very furious over what they called “Fayose’s act of impunity”.
Family sources said although the governor claimed that the house was demolished to give way for the construction of a new palace for the Alafao of Afao-Ekiti, his real reason is because most of the family members belong to the opposition APC.
The family’s spokesman, who is also the APC secretary in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, David Oluwafemi Omotoso, in a statement said: “On May 2 by 3am, government agents bulldozed my father’s house which has been in existence for over 100 years.
“The reason was that the house was ‘covering’ the palace.
“The land on which the new palace is built is part of my father’s land.
“This is a case of sheer victimisation and humiliation just because I am an APC member.”
The governor had earlier informed Omotoso of his decision to acquire the house and land for the building of a new palace but his request was turned down.
Omotoso said the present site of the palace was part of his family land, which they released a long time ago for the palace.
“We, therefore, cannot release our only family house, which had existed over 100 years and where we have buried members of the family.
“Members of the Omotoso family and the town were shell-shocked when they woke up on May 2 to find the building in rubble after Fayose’s bulldozers brought it down at 3am.
“The most revolting action was the display of some of the coffins excavated by the bulldozers.
“ As at the time of demolition, the house was undergoing renovation,” Omotoso said.
Another uncompleted building located behind the demolished building belonging to Mr. David Omotoso, was also pulled down.
The rubbles were swiftly and clinically evacuated before dawn.
Another member of the family, Mrs Bose Ige (nee Omotoso), an APC member, also believes that Fayose demolished the family house to punish them because they belong to the APC.
“If a land or property is to be acquired, is it by force and without compensation?
“Is Mr. Fayose acquiring our family house as an indigene of Afao or as governor ?
“This is an abuse of power and oppression of the highest order. My family will not take this lying low at all.”
The governor’s aides, Idowu Adelusi and Lere Olayinka, could not be reached for comments.
The duo did not answer their calls yesterday night.
