By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
Landlords and landladies whose houses where demolished in Osogbo, Osun State capital, during the adminstration of former Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, have called on Governor Gboyega Oyetola to urgently come to their aid and pay their compensation.
The affected house owners were drawn from Olonkoro, Old Garage, Ajegunle, Ayetoro and Igbona just to mention a few.
According to them, the former Governor demolished their houses in order to pave way for dualization of the road but their compensation was not given to them until the expiration of his tenure.
Led by 85-years old, the landlords and landladies staged the protest over the refusal of the state government to pay them over N1billion compensation after destroying their houses 14 years ago.
The Octogenarian who led the affected Landlords and Landladies Association in the protest carried placard with various inscription: “Please fulfill your words Mr Governor, redeem your pledge and pay us our compensation, pay our money as our people are dying”, among other inscriptions.
Addressing newsmen, the Chairman of the Landlords and Landladies Association, Mr Oladejo Moshood said no fewer than 14 affected persons have reportedly died between 2012 till date.
He said the deceased persons have waited for a long time for the government to pay their compensation for demolishing their houses, but all to no avail until their demise.
According to Oladejo, apart from those who have died, many who are still alive are facing serious challenges with their families. He stated that they have gone to borrow money from the bank and various cooperative societies to start re-building their demolished buildings saying, most of them and their family have no place to lay their heads.
His words, “We are here to call on the state Governor, My Gboyega Oyetola to please pay us our compensation running to N1 billion which was promised since 2012 which was the regime of the immediate past Governor and current minister for Interior Mr Rafiu Aregbesola.
“I can tell you that over 14 landlords and landladies have died due to hardship and non-payments of their compensation.
“Many of us are sick while still waiting to receive the money. This is why we are calling on the state government to fulfill its promise made to us since 2012 because some of us are indebted to bank for borrowing to re-construct our demolished building.
“As I speak with you now many houses are under construction but the owners did not see money to complete it”, he stated.
Also speaking, smother octogenarian, Michael Adeogun said the Governor had long promised to pay them their compensation but up till this moment he has not redeemed his promise.
“We are suffering and we had borrowed money to complete our houses in anticipation that government will pay us so that we pay back our debt on time.
“Many of us have died due to hardship and suffering. Some of us borrowed to complete our house while other started constructing their own could not complete it due to lack of money. We are hereby appealing to Governor Gboyega Oyetola to kindly help us and pay our compensation as they were never against government quest for development but a “promise remains a promise”, he stated.
Other who spoke separately with our reporter lamented their state of suffering since 11years ago, adding that many of them who borrowed money from the bank to re-construct their house (s) are now facing indebtedness from banks and other finance houses where they have gone to borrow the money.
Reacting, the state Commissioner for Information and Civic orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode appealed to the affected landlords and landladies to be patient with the government as efforts have been put in place to ensure they get their compensation in a short while.
She said, the government will not relent in making life bearable for all and sundry in Osun as plans are in the pipeline to ensured that the affected people get paid.
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