- The five-storey building was brought down in the early hours of Sunday on the orders of the state governor, Dapo Abiodun.
- Lawal disclosed that the building was scheduled for official opening later this month before it was demolished without any plausible reason.
The Ogun State government has demolished an edifice belonging to DATKEM Plaza, owned by Olufunke Daniel.
Ms Daniel is the wife of former governor Gbenga Daniel and incumbent senator representing Ogun East.
The five-storey building was brought down in the early hours of Sunday on the orders of the state governor, Dapo Abiodun.
In a statement, Olusegun Lawal, the Project Manager and Developer for the building, revealed that the demolition of the five-storey building located at Folagbade Street, Ijebu-Ode, was carried out at 3:00 a.m. on Sunday.
Lawal disclosed that the building was scheduled for official opening later this month before it was demolished without any plausible reason.
He added that the building, which had been under construction since 2009 and had the full approval from the state government, had no structural or quality issues.
He disclosed that the third floor of the now demolished building was to house the Ogun East Senatorial Office.
The demolition comes amid widespread speculation of raging rift between the incumbent governor and former governor Daniel now senator for Ogun East.
It’s not certain what the genesis of their fuel is,l as Mr Daniel backed Mr Abiodun for governor in 2019.
However, there are reports that Daniel switch allegiance in as 2023 election drew closer, pitching is tent with Ladi Adebutu, the candidate of opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
Daniel did not openly back Mr Abiodun’s reelection, but instead worked quietly to support Adebutu.
The demolition was “very shocking, very cruel and a heinous act committed by someone who is supposed to be saving our lives and properties; by somebody who is supposed to protect the rule of law in this state.” Lawal told newsmen on Sunday.
He added that, as the developer of the building, everything that was required from state government officials was done, therefore, the demolition was shocking.
“We’ve done what was needful from our side regarding this project. They complained of contravention and we made amendment to the approval, submitted since last year. This is a building that’s almost two years now. Every queries raised, we answered them.
“When they partially sealed us, they asked us to pay unsealing fee of half a million (N500,000) which I paid. They received it and the next thing they did was to give us a letter in which they said within 24 hours, the amendment submitted doesn’t confirm with what we’re building. I said can we perform magic in this life?”
Today’s development, provoked or not, is all but assured to upset the applecart and would likely burst open and bring to public glare the simmering tension and seething animosity between the two political foes.