BY DAUD  OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA — Following the protest against the planned demolition of houses and shops in Sango Ijoko in Ado Odo/Ota Local Government  Area of Ogun State, on Tuesday, the state government said it has shelved the plan.

The government said this, yesterday  in  a statement  by  Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, assuring  residents of  the area that apart from the houses already marked to create right of way for the on-going road expansion, no other house will be demolished in the area.
Hundreds of residents and traders along Ijoko Road had, on Tuesday,  protested against the  plan by the  state government to further demolish their houses and shops to pave way for the road expansion.

The protesters, who carried  placards  with various inscriptions such as, “Please don’t demolish our lives,” “We have no others means of survival,” “Stop further demolition of our houses and shops,” said that they had suffered so much and lost a substantial part of their property.

The commissioner, however, said: “Although there was a suggestion that the bridges should be expanded in preparation for future development, the idea was discarded when there was a hint that in few areas it might affect some more buildings.
“Construction work on the 32-kilometre road is being pursued with vigour to quickly bring to an end the agony of those who ply it in its present state and we are mindful of not creating a new problem while solving another one,” Olaniyonu said.

He noted that the regular inspection of the construction by Governor Ibikunle Amosun was to ensure that the work was carried out in record time and also to see that inconvenience to the people was minimal.
The government explained that it embarked on the construction in response to demands by residents despite the great cost involved, adding that rather than being castigated by few who were being instigated by the opposition, “we should be encouraged.
“We are not embarking on this project to inconvenience or disorganise the lives of our people. It is natural that some people will pay the price for all to enjoy. We sympathise with those whose property had been affected and we urge them to quickly go and take their compensation from the Bureau of Lands and Survey in Abeokuta.”
The government assured that the rebuilding mission of the Amosun administration was unwavering, even in the face of unwarranted and destructive criticism of few of its opponents who are yet to wake up to the reality of the new dawn in Ogun State.
“We are not opposed to criticism but we will appreciate if it is constructive and people-oriented because it is only this that can lead to development which this government is in a hurry to bring to our dear state,” the Commissioner said.