Residents of Akure, the Ondo State capital, are up in arms over Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s decision to demolish over 150 residential homes occupied by civil servants.
The government-built homes, located in Alagbaka’s civil service quarters, were constructed during the administration of late Governor Adekunle Ajasin to provide affordable accommodation for state workers.
The affected residents, who have lived in the homes for over a decade, claim they were not given adequate notice or offered alternative housing. They accuse the governor of destroying Ajasin’s legacy, who they say prioritized public service and worker welfare. The demolition is allegedly part of a larger land-grab plot by powerful government officials seeking to convert the prime land into luxury properties.
The residents, represented by various unions and labor groups within the Ondo civil service, have vowed to resist the demolition. They argue that the government’s actions are unjust and anti-people, and that they will not be treated like squatters despite paying rent regularly.
“We pay rent, and we’re not squatters,” one resident said. “If they try to throw us out like criminals, there will be resistance.”
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who assumed office after the death of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in 2023, has been accused of spearheading the demolition. His administration has yet to respond to the backlash.
In related news, Aiyedatiwa was sworn in for a full term as Ondo governor after a resounding victory in the November 2024 governorship election.
The planned demolition has sparked fears of mass eviction and land grabbing, with potentially devastating consequences for the affected residents. The situation remains tense, with several unions and labor groups mobilizing for mass action to stop the demolition.
