The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State has called on Governor Seyi Makinde to reconsider his alleged plan to seize land in Ibadan as part of the ongoing Circular Road project.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the governor has proposed 500-meter setbacks for the project, which has sparked concern. In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the Oyo APC questioned the reasoning behind the plan.
The party accused the Makinde administration of attempting to “forcefully hijack over 24,700 acres of privately owned land,” a move they argue could displace over 100,000 families.
The Circular Road project is set to span six local government areas on the outskirts of Ibadan, and the proposed setbacks have been a source of controversy. Affected landlords have reportedly pleaded for leniency, with many already seeing their properties demolished or marked for demolition by state government agents.
“Tongues have been wagging on why a governor would allegedly alter the approved plan of a development project initiated by his predecessors to suit his wishes in a democracy.
“While members of the public do not have sufficient information about the progress made on the real construction of the Circular Road, apart from the fact that billions of Naira were set aside as the cost, government has allegedly prioritised the grabbing of land belonging to poor citizens.
“Even as the state government claims the actions were being taken in the overriding public interest, certain questions on the exact development projects which are to be done on such expanse of land have not been answered by the government.
“This has lent credence to the submission from many quarters that it could be a repeat of what had happened to various land resources owned by either the government or private individuals/organisations allegedly sold off by the government in recent times,” the party said.
It contended that the alleged sale of BCOS Staff Quarters, ARCEDEM Estates owned by ECOWAS, some segment of Agodi Gardens land, Trans Amusement Park, among others, still hurt the state’s citizens.
“It is imperative that the governor should halt his alleged plan on taking land and properties owned by hapless citizens with a view to allocating them to investors,” Oyo State APC said
(allnews.ng)
Leave a Reply