Bus Terminus:Octogenarian  Leads Protest Against Ekiti Govt. Over Non – Payment of Compensation 

An 80-year old and  former labour leader, Mr. Isa Isola Bello,Thursday led  some aggrieved landlords and other  indigenes of Ado-Ekiti to protest an alleged non payment of compensation to their families in the properties acquired by Ekiti State Government for the construction  of new bus terminus .

They alleged that over 100 ancestral buildings were acquired during  during the administration of Ayo Fayose for the construction of new Oja-Oba Market and new bus terminus.

The protesters who displayed placards,also alleged that former governor Fayose adopted selective option for compensation,adding that  only members of his political parties were settled leaving behind those tagged to be in the opposition party.

Bello, said the community had written series of letters to Governor Kayode Fayemi and  the Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, who is also an Ado Ekiti indigene, but all efforts were fruitless.

He added:”We have written series of letters, which were officially acknowledged, but they  did nothing. We are all loyal APC members, so enough is enough. We voted for APC in 2018. The APC got one of  the highest votes in Ado Ekiti here. Within seven days, if they don’t pay, we will take decisive actions”.

The  spokesman of the protesters, Mr. Kehinde Adeosun, said the delay in payment had rendered many homeless and brought trauma to many property owners in that axis.

“The existence of Ijoka Community dated back 1300. The community until its demolition in 2016 was the commercial nerve centre of Ado Ekiti where traders are making millions of naira daily.

“We want to stress  that all other communities and towns acquired after the demolition of our dear community had received compensations from the state government. A critical example is the land acquired for the construction of airport within the State capital and other towns where their owners had received compensations.

“The trauma on our members as a result of this neglect had caused a lot of havoc and psychological distress. We plead that the state government should pay us our entitlements”.

Besides,youth leader of Ijoka, Hon. Olasehinde Omotoso, said it was unfortunate for the government to be spending billions to institute projects in the area , while failing to pay compensations due to them .

“Fayose applied partisanship and gave compensations to only ten landlords before he left,  why should I suffer when I am an APC member? The governor should give us our money within seven days. If they fail, we will take whatever actions we want to take”.

One of the Engineers constructing the Bus Terminal, Kolawole Bankole, promised  that their messages would be taken to government for proper actions, assuring that the governor has not forgotten them.