By Daniel Eteghe

BENIN-Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Tuesday, reiterated his administration’s determination to demolish houses built on the moat in the state, stressing that it was the only way to avert flooding in the state.

Speaking to newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Governor Oshiomhole said the demolition became necessary to safeguard the lives and property of the people of the state.

He said houses built on the moat had to be removed to prevent flooding during rainfall, adding that all illegal structures built by ‘big men’ would be demolished no matter how highly placed the individuals were.

On the arrest and trial of the Chairman, Task Force on Demolition of Illegal Properties in the state, Major Lawrence Loye (rtd), Oshiomhole explained that the chairman went beyond his brief in carrying out his duties. The governor pointed out that he was not competent and lacked the training to do what he did.

Oshiomhole said: “We had decided that no matter who, once a house is built on the moat, we will remove it; if you build on the right of way, it would be removed. It does not matter who you are.

“From the powerful to the powerless, we have removed illegal structures and we will continue to do so because that is the reason we seek power so that we use it to do greatest things.”

He added that government will compensate owners of houses that where wrongly demolished, provided they have documents to back their claims.

“If it mean taking tough decisions against a few people, the rules are clear. We have the Ministry of Land and Survey, and Ministry of Environment. Between these two, they determine what constitute an obstruction to the right of way under the law of Edo State and Town Planning Bye-laws and what offends the normal natural ways.”