Kunle ADELABU
Late Sotomiwa’s father’s house on No. 1, Agoro lane, Igbogbo, which was demolished.
The widow of the late Hon. Rotimi Sotomiwa, former member, Lagos State House of Assembly who represented the people of Ikorodu Constituency II, Mrs Rukayat Sotonwa, has cried out to the Lagos State government and the general public to have pity on the wives, children and families of the late lawmaker and pay them compensation for their demolished houses.
She also pleaded for many other families affected by the demolition exercise which was embarked upon by the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration for right of way for the abandoned reconstruction of the Ipakodo-Igbogbo-Igbe road.
About 700 houses were demolished along Igbogbo axis by the government for the project which the government stated would positively affect the social and economic developments of Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area and the entire Ikorodu Division when completed.
Out of the buildings affected in the demolition exercise which also claimed several traditional, historic and cultural structures, five were directly connected to the late lawmaker’s wife.
While speaking with THE IMPACT, Mrs Sotonwa stated that she had tried to reach Governor Ambode through his wife all to no avail while a letter and several messages sent to him through his wife were not replied.
She stated that her late husband’s house on No. 90, Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way (formerly Agbele Way), Igbogbo, where his widows, children and other dependants are living, as well as her own house on No. 8B and her mother’s house on No. 8B, both situated in the same location, were all affected by the demolition.
Late Sotomiwa;s house at 90, Bola Ahmed Tinubu way in Igbogbo
According to her, the demolition also affected late Sotomiwa’s father’s house on No. 1, Agoro lane, Igbogbo. According to her, large part of the house, which was rebuilt by the lawmaker before his sudden death in 2010 and being rented out by the family as a means of livelihood, was affected by the demolition.
The widow also complained that her grandfather’s house on No. 19, Meri road, Igbogbo, was also demolished.
She claimed that necessary documents of all the affected buildings have been forwarded to the Lagos State Government upon request but that nothing has been done regarding their compensation.
“Since the death of my husband who served Ikorodu and the state creditable well, his large family has been managing to source its means of livelihood without begging around and we are contented.
“Part of what has been sustaining the family are the lockup shops attached to the affected buildings which were also affected by the demolition exercise.
“More worrisome is the fact that some victims of the demolition have been paid their compensation and are back on their feet but in our own case, particularly me that is connected to five of the affected buildings, nothing has been done yet”.
“How do you want a widow that you (Government) didn’t provide for since the death of her husband 10 years ago to survive?”, Mrs Sotonwa quarried.
“I have also did everything to reach out to the governor through his wife but my efforts have not yielded anything”.
Mrs Sotomiwa and her mother’s house also affected by the destruction
She, however, appealed for quick intervention in the matter to help her family and other affected families yet to be compensated to get back to their normal life.
“It’s been almost two years since the demolition exercise which shattered many families and dreams. Many are yet to recover from the effect of the incident and I strongly think that the present government could help these affected residents back on track with the compensation.
“There are many people who have remained homeless since the demolition of their houses and many others whose economic interest like ours were taken away.
“We freely accepted the reconstruction of the road because of its social and economic implications on the town and Ikorodu division at large but not at the expense of our lives and future”, she stated.
Prince Rotimi Ogunleye, the Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development in the state, when accosted by our reporter during the Psalm Sunday celebration in Ikorodu, stated that the process of paying compensation is ongoing and assured that all those entitled to payment would be paid by the government.
“It is an ongoing and continuous process. You should know that the government cannot pay all the compensation at once, but they are all going to be paid”, he assured.
While corroborating the Commissioner’s statement in an interview with our reporter in his office, Comrade Sesan Daini, the Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, assured that all the residents affected by the demolition would be paid their compensation by the government.
Late Mrs Sotomiwa;s grand father;s house at 19, Meri road in Igbogbo, which was also affected by the demlolition
“We are on the matter and I can assure you that the government is working towards paying them (victims of demolition). The present government is still promising to pay them before the expiration of its term.
“Those that have not been paid would definitely be paid when it gets to their turns”.
While allaying the fears that the outgoing government may not pay those who are yet to collect their compensation, the Council Chairman stated that government is a continuum and assured that the incoming administration of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu would do the needful concerning the compensation.
“Though, I do not believe that the present government will not pay the compensation, but just in case that happens, the matter was part of what the divisional leaders discussed with the governor-elect and which he pledged to do.
“Since government is a continuous process, our people should be assured that the construction of the road and payment of compensation are going to be top priorities on the agenda of the incoming government. So, we are hopeful”.
He denied the allegation of political favouritism for those that have been paid their compensation.
“I don’t know anything about people being paid because of their political lineage or intervention by anyone. I don’t have the knowledge of that”, he stated.
