₦airaland Forum

EDO state government, Thursday justified Tuesday’s demolition of the properties of the immediate past deputy governor of the state, Dr. Pius Odubu and those of Professor Julius Ihonvbere, former Secretary to the State Government, SSG and Mike Itemuagbon, sports promoter, saying that the properties were recovered for the use of the state after their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) were revoked alongside that of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

A statement by the Secretary to State Government (SSG) Osarodion Ogie Esq. stated that the C of Os of the properties were revoked on December 21, 2020 because they were gifted out as parting gifts by the immediate past governor of the stat, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to former political office holders, companies and private individuals.

The statement said those were the only properties owned by the state government in GRA before they were gifted out which he said would have created fresh burden on government buying land from the public if it needs them from development in future.

He said: “On December 21, 2020, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, revoked the Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) of 11 government properties within the Government Reserved Area (GRA) which were allotted to former political office holders, companies and private individuals as parting gifts on the eve of the exit of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole from office. One of the properties was allocated to Governor Obaseki and was also revoked”, the statement read.

The statement said since the C of Os of the properties were revoked they automatically reverted to the original owner that is the government so the persons occupying the said properties were doing so illegally and as trespassers.

“It is instructive to note that one of the properties in question to which a former Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Pius Odubu, lays claim is actually the official Lodge of the Secretary to the State Government of Edo State (SSG). The implication of this is that all SSGs after Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s administration will not have an official residence”, the state government reiterated.

The statement debunked the insinuations that the government embarked “on the recovery of the properties out of vendetta, the truth is that these are the only remaining properties in the GRA that belong to the state government. If they are allowed to be taken over by these private individuals, it means that when the government wants to embark on any project within the GRA, it will have to resort to purchasing from the open market”.

It assured that “the governor has a fiduciary responsibility to protect and act in the best interest of the people of Edo State and will never betray the public trust they have reposed in him”.

A middle-aged man, Anayo Ukadike, yesterday alleged that he escaped from an attempt to use him for ritual purposes in one of the hotels in Imo state.

In a petition to Imo state police command in Owerri, said he escaped from an exit door when he was attacked by three heavy able-bodied men as he was inside his room, 45.

Ukadike said it was a ritual attempt as he said he reached out to the management of the hotel who pleaded to him not to report his encounter to the police.

He narrated: “Worst experience in the hospitality of our life The name of the hotel is explicit Lodge Ltd, located at Marathana Avenue, behind Harvester Suit, New Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

“I was unfortunate enough to book a room in the hotel on the 10th of March, 2021. I escaped death only by Divine Providence. Their antecedents proved the fact that they are in the business of killing people for ritual purposes.

“I was brutally attacked in my room 45 in a Commando’s style by three dreaded able-bodied young men, who broke into my room but to their greatest surprise, I was able to escape after using my last strength to heat the particular one blocking the exit door.”

“The attitude of the management and staff of the hotel when contacted proved that the attack was planned, coordinated and executed by them. I was pleaded with by the management not to contact the police; promising they will trace the attackers.

“I, therefore, use this opportunity to warn the general public to beware of this dangerous ritualists hotel called Explicit Lodge Ltd Located At Marathana, Avenue, Behind Harvester Suit, New Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria,” Ukadike

When contacted by the state police public relations officer, PPRO confirmed that the command “We av received the write-up, and we are now working on it.”