By Okhide Em’ya David
Edo State Government has vowed to reclaim all government property encroached upon by unauthorized persons no matter how highly placed they are.
This was the position of the State Government on Tuesday when State officials demolished buildings illegally erected on some government owned property.
Joint security operatives comprising NSCDC, Edo State PUWOV were on the ground to monitor the demolition exercise.
It was learnt that the action was part of the present administration’s commitment to reclaim all government lands and other property encroached upon by unauthorized Individuals.
It was gathered that the land housing the property were parts of those reclaimed from the University of Benin by previous administration.
The demolition exercise lead the officials from the ministry of physical planning and urban development to Omo Osagie Avenue, Okoro Otun and others, all in the GRA Benin City.
Millions of Naira worth of properties were brought down a few years ago during a recovery exercise by previous administration when University of Benin occupied the Government Buildings.
The previous administration in the State under the leadership of comrade Adams Oshiomhole was able to proved beyond reasonable doubt that the land was leased to UNIBEN
That Government was able to establish after a long stretch of legal battle which culminated in the Supreme Court, that Edo State actually owned the said property and that some were only leased out under the military administration of late Major General Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia.
Investigations revealed that government did not erect buildings inside the property after they were reclaimed from illegal occupants.
The question now begging for answer remains that if the state government did not erect the buildings on the reclaimed lands who now did?
All efforts to get officials from the ministry of physical planning and urban development to speak on the matter has not yielded results.
Meanwhile, former Deputy Governor in Edo State, Dr Pius Odubu, has condemned the demolition of his property in GRA, Benin City by Government Officials saying it was “Politics of bitterness and flagrant disregard for court adjudication.”
The property in view, was occupied by Odubu’s younger brother and his family at the time it was demolished.
The former deputy governor’s building was destroyed along with that of the member representing Owan Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives Prof Julius Ihonvbere, both ardent loyalists of the immediate past Governor of Edo state and former National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Mr. Adams Oshiomohle.
Dr Pius Odubu, while reacting to the news of the destruction of his house described the action of Governor Obaseki as most unfortunate.
The Former Deputy Governor explained that the matter was already before a court of competent jurisdiction, and wondered why the Governor would be in a hurry to disregard court process on a matter before it.
Odubu said he had read in the Nigeria Observer Newspaper in January that, his Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to his property and those of others situated at Dennis Osadebe Avenue in the Government Reserve Area (GRA) in Benin, have been revoked.
“The information came to me this afternoon, March 23, that my property situated at Dennis Osadebe avenue have been brought down by agents of the government on the directive of the Governor”.
“Before now, my attention was brought to a publication in the Observer newspaper in January, that the C of O of my property have been revoked without prior notice given to me”.
*“I went to court in the matter and I’m surprised that after they have been served, the government still went ahead to bring down my house with a bulldozer”.*
“My younger one was in the house when it was brought down and they did not give them notice nor allowed to remove any of their properties before destroying the place,” he said.
Mrs. Precious Odubu, who was the occupant in the demolished house, narrated the incident to newsmen. She said, at about 4pm, she noticed some strange looking policemen who came into the compound and she approached them to inquire about their mission.
“The way they came in, not through the main gate, i was afraid and asked about their mission and they told me that they want to demolish the house and if there are children in the building they should be brought out”.
“Without even waiting for my response, they just brought in their buldozers and started destroying the house without allowing us to remove our properties,” she stated.
In same-vein, Julius Ihonvbere is said to have strongly condemned the act.
