Monarch urges govt, communities to dialogue over demolition exercise

BARELY three months after the demolition of over 400 houses in Pakoto area by Ifo Local Council of Ogun State, one of the prominent monarchs in the area, the Onilepa of Ilepa, Oba Abdulfatai Oladipupo, has said that efforts made to dialogue with the government were ignored by some of the community leaders before the demolition exercise was carried out.

Speaking to journalist in his palace, he said the affected land was acquired by the Federal Government in 1981 although compensation was paid but not all the communities benefitted from amount paid.

“I always summoned meetings to discuss how to resolve the crisis on acquired land but many of my subjects and community leaders turned my advice down, vowing to take government to court to challenge the acquisition of the land.

“I believe in dialogue and that negotiation can resolve the crisis. I also believe that government can pay more compensation if dialogue is applied,” he said.

The monarch urged Nigerians to support President Muhammad Buhari’s led government for economic growth and advised the people of Ogun State to support Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s drive on transforming the state from its rural setting into a modern and industrial one.