By Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

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Indigenes of Ado-Ekiti and house owners in Ijoka quarters of the town on Thursday staged a protest over their demolished property worth N82.6 million  pulled down by the state government for the construction of Bus Terminal.

The protesters, said it was sad and mind-boggling for  government to demolish their property  four years ago, without  paying requisite compensation.

The placards carrying protesters visited the construction site and the Palace of Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, to make their plights known.

Addressing journalists, the spokesman of the aggrieved landlords, Mr. Afolabi Ogunsakin, lamented the perceived non-chalant posture of Governor Kayode Fayemi to pay their compensation, after  they were  evicted at short notice.

He said: “Our dear ancestral homes were demolished in 2016 by the state government without consideration for the hardship and negative  the effects that we experienced.

“All negotiations regarding payment of compensations to members were  fruitless. After several appeals, it became clear that government was not ready to pay us our entitlements. It is also clear that delay in payment of our entitlements was deliberate.

“The community wants to state categorically here that henceforth, step will be taken to disturb workers on site. We are ready to face the consequences until the government pay our entitlements.”

Also fuming over the delay, the Head of the family, Chief Laisi Opokiti, regretted how they were deceived by government, saying: ” many tombs where our forefathers were buried were leveled during the demolition. We know that their spirits will fight.

“Four years, four months and two days after demolition, government didn’t pay us a dime. Governor Fayemi said he has approved money, but it was not given to us. We appeal that they give us our entitlements.”

Also speaking, the Community Youth Leader, Olasehinde Omotoso, disclosed that they had visited the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Diran Adesua and the Director General, Bureau of Lands, Mrs Funke Falodun, but  efforts were futile.

“We have visited them severally, but it seems they are deceiving us. We are not saying Governor Fayemi is bad, he is a good man, but we want him to order the payment of our compensation.

“If they refuse, the spirits of those that are buried here and those whose houses are demolished will fight back if they refuse to pay us”, he stated.

Oba Adejugbe, represented by Omosio of Ado Ekiti, Chief Opeyemi Abiola, appealed to the protesters not to be unruly and destructive in their action.

“We will relay your message to Kabiyesi. Baba will be around next week Tuesday, so that you can return here to ventilate your anger. He will take up your case with all relevant government agencies”.