Ejigbo Central Motor Park: Obe To Seek Legal Intervention

By Motolani AbdulGafar

The Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Monsurudeen Bello (Obe) has declared his intention to seek legal intervention as the crisis over the proposed construction of Ejigbo Central Motor Park took another dimension last week.

The issue has continued to be worsen between the local council authority and HRM, the Ojon of Ejigbo and Ijan Land, Oba Morufu Adekunle Adisa Ojoola.

Last week, the council commenced the construction of the park as the contractor, Hazland-M Builders and Properties Limited, deployed its workers on the site to begin the project.

However, it was reported that the monarch allegedly sent people to disrupt the construction of the park, chasing away workers from the site.

It is said to be the first ever central motor park to be built in Ejigbo. The workers had begun the construction on the site earmarked for the purpose which is located under the high tension wire at Iyana-Ejigbo, on Tuesday, last week, when the workers were chased away.

The council chairman has called for the support of the security agencies as he had a closed-door meeting with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Lagos Neighborhood Security Corps (LNSC).

Obe explained that the monarch sent his chiefs led by Musibau Balogun and some other people to chase away the workers.

“This was done without pre-informing the Council Chairman or presenting any formal document from the state government,” he said.

Obe, who wondered why the royal father was opposing his move on the project, explained that since the beginning of his first tenure in 2017, he had never denied the Kabiyesi of his rights, including salary and imprest.

“I don’t even stop the Kabiyesi from doing whatever he wants, so far it doesn’t disturb the government.

“However, the Kabiyesi had never joined hands in developing Ejigbo, nor has he written to the state government to assist the LCDA through any means,” he said.

While challenging the monarch on the reason for disrupting the project, the council boss invited the security agencies to witness the event and tighten the security of the local council, since it is obvious that some people are out to deliberately cause trouble.

As gathered by ECHONEWS, the idea of constructing a standard motor park in Ejigbo was conceived in 2011 during the tenure of Hon. Kehinde Bamgbetan as the council chairman while Obe was the vice.

However, the project could not be executed then but was presented again during the first tenure of of the incumbent council chairman in 2017.

Again, it could not be executed due to other numerous projects being focused on.

Obe told ECHONEWS that since its conception, the Ojon of Ejigbo was informed of the project and was carried along.

He said he had promised during his campaign to embark on the project during his second term in office which commenced this year.

Making explanation about the land being used for the project which has being the bone of contention between the monarch and the council, Obe said: “The stretch of land was originally under the control of the state government, but after several interventions and communication with the ministry of transportation, it was handed over to Ejigbo LCDA for the construction of garage and shops.

“The Ministry served series of demolition notice, before going ahead with the demolition. The Ministry also cleared the rubbles before handing it to the Local Council. Before the back-and-forth interaction with the Ministry of Transportation, the Kabiyesi had been reminded of the plan and he didn’t oppose it. Although at some point it was discovered that the Kabiyesi stylishly delayed its progress.

“Some property owners and stakeholders had also been invited by the Council Chairman to formally inform them of the plan. Initially they were pleased and showed some level of understanding. But after meeting with the Kabiyesi, they changed their tone and expressed displeasure. Even after the demolition, another stakeholders meeting was held at the project site. Concerned property owners, artisans, traders and community members were invited to keep them abreast of the plan.

“Now work has started and the Kabiyesi has chased away the workers.”

However, Obe assured residents of Ejigbo that he would go extra mile to ensure that communal growth and development always supersede individual interest for all to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Meanwhile various reactions have trailed the proposed construction of the central motor park in the council area.

Prior to the clearing of the land for the project, the council and the concerned people including community stakeholders had engaged in series of meeting where the issue of demolition of buildings on the land was resolved.

The victims of the demolished shops while speaking to ECHONEWS expressed their opinion over the incident.

A male seamster, Mr. Sulaimon Ilyas whose shop was demolished disclosed that the council’s interest to construct a central park is a good move but the constraint in information dissemination should be efficiently considered as most shop traders were not aware of the development until two days before the day of demolition which has affected most traders.

He solicited compensation or allocation of another trading space to them.

A Point of Sales (POS) operator, Mrs. Zainab AbdulRahman on her part appreciated Obe, saying she believed the establishment of a central park would aid transport coordination in Ejigbo.
However, in a related development, a resident of the area who preferred anonymity told ECHONEWS that the demolition exercise was being taken up by the Lagos State Government in an intervention over the Power line infringement in the area.

He said constitutionally, there should be no encroachment on a power line area with a minimum of 50 metres from where it ends but which the demolished setting in the area is totally opposite government’s directive.

He revealed that the issue of power line encroachment in Ejigbo has been on for almost two years or thereabout but the residents have shown negligent towards government’s warning.

He noted that the state government had earlier given a  six months notice, first 21 days notice, second 21 days notice, 7 days notice, first 2 days notice and second 2 days notice before the demolition began.

He said the state government’s action is to curb the residential infringement of the land while advising residents to take note of places they intend to rent or lands they intend to buy on future occasions.

Meanwhile, all efforts to contact the Ojon of Ejigbo and or his chiefs proved abortive.