Aides to former Ogun State Governor and current Senator for Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, have warned that legal action may be taken against the Dapo Abiodun-led state government over its move to demolish Daniel’s private residence Asoludero Court in Sagamu GRA as well as his Conference Hotel and its annex.
In a press briefing on Monday, Steve Oliyide, media aide to the senator, described the demolition threat as politically motivated, accusing the state government of targeting Daniel under the guise of enforcing planning regulations.
According to Oliyide, all the senator’s properties in question were duly approved by the state’s planning authorities, and the government’s claim of contravention is baseless.
“This is pure political persecution. These properties were built with proper approvals on record. Yet, the government now claims ignorance, which is simply a cover for ulterior motives,” Oliyide said.
He further criticized the speed and manner in which the government issued both contravention and quit notices within the same day, arguing that such action violates the 2022 Urban and Regional Planning Law of Ogun State.
Accusations of Hypocrisy and Selective Enforcement
Oliyide also accused Governor Abiodun of lacking the moral standing to enforce planning laws, claiming that the governor’s private residence along the Iperu–Ode Road violates setback regulations and should have been the first to face demolition if the laws were being fairly applied.
“If this is really about planning violations, let’s start with the governor’s own house. Otherwise, this is just targeted harassment,” he said.
He argued that the correct legal procedure would have been to request documentation or issue a demand notice for clarification, rather than jumping to demolition threats.
Oliyide added, “There is no new construction going on at these sites. Even if the government suspects something, it should ask for documents which we have and are willing to present. We won’t assist a government that cannot keep its own records.”
He also revealed that government officials had already removed earlier notices from the affected properties shortly after the press conference, adding to the confusion surrounding the matter.
Targeted Attack or Routine Regulation?
While the state government insists the demolition plan is part of a routine land audit of the Sagamu GRA, Daniel’s camp views the move as a targeted vendetta, particularly since only his properties appear to be under scrutiny.
“Out of over 2,000 properties in the GRA, they are only interested in those belonging to Otunba Gbenga Daniel a house built in 2004 and the Conference Hotels. That tells you all you need to know,” Oliyide said.
He also compared the situation to the 2023 demolition of the DATKEM Plaza in Ijebu Ode a building owned by Senator Daniel’s wife in which the state government lost a legal battle up to the Court of Appeal.
“We defeated them in court over DATKEM, and we are confident they will lose again in this politically driven attempt,” he said.
Government Yet to Issue Formal Response
When reached for comment, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, stated that the administration is preparing an official response, which will be released in due course.
Meanwhile, political tensions between allies of Senator Daniel and the Abiodun administration appear to be escalating, with both camps trading accusations of bad faith. As legal threats mount, the situation is fast shaping into a high-profile public standoff that could test the state’s urban policy enforcement — and its politics.
