Operatives of the Ogun state Bureau of Urban and Physical Planning on Monday demolished the fence of the campaign office of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Kayode Amusan.
The aspirant, who was a former member of House of Representatives, however, accused the government of carrying out the demolition for political reasons.
A team of government officials from the Bureau of Urban and Physical Planning stormed the Oke-Ilewo campaign office of the aspirant at about 10:20 a.m. and demolished the fence of the building serving as his campaign secretariat.
Arriving the scene in a branded vehicle with registration number OG 06 836,the officials while carrying out the demolition exercise declared that the structure lacked approval.
However, Mr. Amusan, said the state agency had no right to carry out such demolition. He revealed that he purchased the building from the federal Ministry of Housing.
The PDP aspirant said the fence became imperative following fetish activities being perpetrated within the office premises by unknown persons.
He claimed the demolition was geared towards intimidating him out of the 2015 governorship election in the state.
“It (demolition of the structure) is more of intimidation but nobody can intimidate me from the race. I am going to contest the governorship election,” he said.
“That land belongs to the federal government. As at the time we bought the land, we have submitted approval to the federal Ministry of Housing about five months ago and then they sent it to the state Urban and Physical Planning for them to accede to it.
I’m surprised they resorted to this kind of action. They have no right over the place at all.”
The aspirant stated further that ”You can’t expect me not to fence my building. In fact, only on Sunday, somebody came to bury a whole leg of cow there. You can imagine.
But no matter what, I will contest the election. Nobody can force me out.”
The Ogun State government, through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Yusuph Olaniyonu, however, defended the demolition exercise of the structure; saying it was justified and in accordance with the law.
“They are all just trying to cash in on the (politics). He (Mr. Amusan) is building on the setback and he has no approval and it has been marked since,” the commissioner said.
“They knocked it down so that he would not continue to waste his money. He ignored the order and stop work notice. What he should do now is that he should move inwards and also apply for approval.
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