Residents of Ilugoke community in Iperu Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, Friday, resisted an attempt by the Ogun State government to demolish an ongoing borehole project in the community.
The Federal Government Constituency intervention borehole project being constructed at the community was facilitated by the Chairman of House of Reps Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu.
DAILY POST gathered that Wale Oshinowo, Ogun State Commissioner for Finance, who incidentally is an indigene of the community, had led some “persons” to the site.
He had attempted to demolish the project on the ground that the contractor handling the project did not obtain proper approval before commencing work.
Our correspondent was informed that Oshinowo met stiff resistance from the people, who told him “to go back and tell Amosun (Ogun State Governor) that he cannot demolish what he didn’t construct for our community”.
A youth, who identified himself as Akinjide, said: “We have been clamouring for this project and now they want to come and destroy it because another person is doing it.
“Why do we behave like this in this country? What kind of people are in power? They just want to punish us because of political differences”, he wailed.
Sensing danger, Oshinowo aborted his mission and his convoy drove out of the scene as many restive youths gathered and threatened to mob him.
As the commisioner left, some residents of the community rained abuses on the commissioner and the APC government.
A community leader, the Oloritun of Ilugoke, Chief Aliu Fatoye, wondered why “a government that never did any project for our people would find joy in destroying a project that is supposed to make life comfortable for us.”
According to him, “For the past six years, we have had issue of lack of water; APC government did nothing and now that Honorable Ladi has brought this project to our community, the state government wants to stop it. This is unacceptable.”
He further lambasted Oshinowo for “choosing to be used to punish his own people”.
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