Akeredolu’s Aide demolished my property because I’m from Ondo South – Ex lawmaker

… I did NOT demolish any property for political reason – Aide

A former lawmaker in the Ondo state house of assembly ,Afolabi Iwalewa has alleged the Senior Special Assistant to governor Akeredolu on Special Duties and Strategy, Dr . Doyin Odebowale of illegally demolishing his structures worth #20million inside his private property.

According to Iwalewa , he is being allegedly victimised by Odebowale because of his(Iwalewa ) perceived loyalty to the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi. 

Narrating his ordeal while speaking with ROVING REPORTERS , Iwalewa alleged that Odebowale had been witch hunting him for no reason except for political.

He said, “on the 16th of November, 2019 ,some officials of the ministry of physical planning and urban development had brought a quit notice that my hotel and bar be demolished because it was illegally built at the place.

They threatened me that they were to carry out the demolition immediately and only top government official could ask them to stop.

I rushed to see the governor, but i couldn’t gain access to him that day. I went to the deputy governor, i was told he was attending a meeting.

I then sent message to the deputy governor and he replied that i should meet the deputy chief of staff to handle the issue.

It was the Deputy chief of staff that called those task force to hold on the demolition. They left and took away some of my items with them.

I later got to know that it was Odebowale that was behind the demolition order on my property.

I made efforts to see Odebowale. in fact , he dropped the call i put through to him. He even said he didn’t need my vote in the next governorship election.

He also boasted that the deputy governor Agboola Ajayi could not stop him from demolishing my property.

The following day, the task force came back and started marking the walls of my hotels and bar as illegal .

Today (sunday)again, i was called that he was demolishing structure of ‘Showboy’ so i rushed there but before i got there, the bulldozer had left and i was told that they were going for my property too.

They said Odebowale had threatened to destroy everyone of us that comes from Ondo South Senatorial district. So i came to see what was happening. To my surprise , i saw many vehicles and bulldozer alongside the commissioner for urban development, Rashhed Badmus and so many thugs.

I had to hide so that they would not injure me and up till now ,i didn’t know why i was faced with this intimidation within the same party.

I was told that Odebowale claimed that it was governor Akeredolu that sent them and that the decision to demolish my bar was made by the state executive council.

And i am sure that what Exco said over demolition only affected outlets at Ijapo and Alagbaka. Look at this now, my structures are not located in either of the two areas.

Aketi is fighting me. He is not even fighting me alone, he wants to kill me and i don’t have the power to fight anybody.

This is the party(APC ) that i worked for. I practically became a driver to them, and this is what i got from them. They have rendered all my staff of about 23 jobless now.

During the last governorship election, i was almost killed by the opposition. While governor Akeredolu was being sworn in, i was in the United States receiving medical treatment on my own bill. When there was no appointment from the government and i was dying of hunger, i began to beg for money from friends before decided to set up this hotel and bar.

Perhaps He is after me because i am the deputy president of Tinubu for 2023 in Ondo state.

In a Reaction, Dr Odebowale denied Iwalewa’s allegations saying  “It is not part of my responsibilities as the SSA, Special Duties & Strategy, to the Governor to demolish any building or structure. I did NOT demolish any “property along Oda Road for political reason”. I am NOT a politician. I do NOT belong to any political party.

I can, however, confirm that the said property was used as a brothel and drinking joint in a strictly residential/security zone.

The Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning acted when he could not present any document which evidenced approval from any agency.

There are reports that the place was harbouring criminals in the State capital, Akure.

The so called owner of the place behaved in a manner which suggested he valued money over human lives.”

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