Ekiti family to sue Fayose, monarch over demolition

The family of late Pa Omotoso of Afao Ekiti has threatened to sue Governor Ayodele Fayose, the monarch of the town, Oba Joseph Ademilua, and members of his council for demolishing their family house.
The eldest son, Mr. David Omotoso, who spoke with journalists in Ado Ekiti accused the governor of demolishing the house located beside the Alafao new palace because of their political differences.
Omotosho is the Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Amuwo/Odofin, Lagos State.
The Afao Development Council had claimed the one-storey building near the palace was demolished because it posed danger to the pupils of St. David’s Nursery and Primary School and SUBEB Model Nursery and Primary School located within the vicinity of the palace.
Fayose in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, had also said the demolition of the said building was purely an internal affair of Afao Community and had nothing to do with him.
“It is the Alafao in Council and the Afao Development Council which felt that the 100 year old dilapidated roofless structure of Omotoso family was posing danger to the pupils of the nearby primary schools. 
“The community also claimed that the building has become a haven to criminals who often hide there to perpetrate crime. What has that got to do with Fayose? Is it because Fayose is from Afao or because he built the palace,” the statement said.
 
But Omotoso, who was accompanied by another daughter of the family, Mrs. Yemi Oluwayose, said the community was up to a mischief by demolishing the old building in the midnight and excavating the rubble without consulting the family.
The family queried why the new building being built behind the old one was pulled down, threatening to challenge the demolition in court.
He said the family would sue the monarch and seek compensation for the colossal damage done to their artifact and other valuables , which could have been protected if they were carried along.
“This house was built in 1953 but it was blown off  by wind about two years ago. The administration of ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi intervened and assisted the family with a sum of N10,000 to reroof the building, which we did.
“It was when we realised that the house was weak that we decided to build a new one behind it. The land belonged to our forebears and about six tombs and other artifacts were inside which they destroyed in the cause of demolishing it.
“But it was disheartening that we were not given any notice before carrying out the act. There  were more dilapidated houses in Afao which they did not demolish.
“We are warning them not to build anything on that land because it belongs to us. The claim that the place posed danger to the pupils is to cover up  their mischief. All they wanted to do was to erase our family’s name in Afao Ekiti. We are going to challenge this injustice in Court,” Omotoso said.

Credit: http://www.punchng.com/

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