By Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
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Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, has warned officers in charge of land allocation in the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development against illegal land deal that could spark crisis among the people.

He stressed that the state government would not condone any act resulting from land deal that could disrupt the peace of any community in Ekiti State.

Egbeyemi gave the warning while mediating in a layout dispute between the officers of the ministry and the residents of Merry Land Avenue, behind Nigeria Television Authority, NTA in his office in Ado Ekiti.

A statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Odunayo Ogunmola, revealed that Egbeyemi paid a fact-finding visit to the spot where he appealed to the aggrieved landlords and residents to give peace a chance.

The Landlords Association of Merry Land Avenue had earlier submitted a petition to the office of the deputy governor accusing the ministry of selling out the access road to the community.

The deputy governor expressed dissatisfaction with the manner at which some officers of the ministry jettisoned the proper layout designed to suit their selfish gain.

Egbeyemi said: “You senior officers hardly go out (to the field) except your junior officers, the way they behave, one has to be careful and then this government will not allow  any dirty job.

“If they want to cheat you (the people), I will not be part of it and if they want to cheat the ministry I will not be part of it.

“For peace I will follow you to the place, whatever needed to be done for peace to reign I will do it.

“I will go out of my will and follow you to the place.” While on the spot assessment of the disputed areas, Egbeyemi urged the parties in the matter to maintain peace and urged them to make use of the alternative routes in the area.

Egbeyemi added: “I thought it is the same thing that happened at Irewolede Estate that is happening here. I have asked the chairman of the housing estate to see me and the land officers in that area.

“I based my judgment on Map 2003, and I observed that the whole place is an estate.”

Chairman of the Community, Mr. Gbenga Oluwatuyi, appreciated the deputy governor for his fatherly role in the matter and pledged their loyalty to the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi.