The Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority (OGPDPA) has issued notices of building plan contraventions against on-going construction of a new palace for the Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo.
In the government notices (see pictures below) date 11 January 2022 which has gone viral on social media and seen by The Dream Daily Newspaper, the government alleged that “the building under construction is unauthorised” and that “the development does not comply with the development permit issued by the Development Control Department”.
Signed by an unnamed person for an anonymous “General Manager” from the Ijebu Igbo Planning Office of the OGPDPA, the notice instructed the contractors handling the palace project to “take notice that further developments on the said land should stop with the service of this notice on you”.
The second notice signed by the same signatory for the unamed “General Manager” listed the alleged contraventions as “building without development permit” and “building contrary to Ogun State Building Regulations, 2020”.
The notice put the stage of work on the new palace at “foundation” level, which portion was clearly marked in red paint to accentuate the government’s “stop work” order.
The notice directed the contractors handling the palace project “to bring all documents in support of your case including your development permit to the undersigned within 24 hours of the service of this notice on you” if the contractors “dispute the above contravention”
It also stated that “if you (the contractors) do not dispute the contravention, you are ordered to restore the land to its original state by removing the said contravention”.
However, the notice warned that “if you failed to remove the said contravention within three (3) Days from the date of service of this notice, the said contravention shall be demolished after service of demolition notice on you.”
Since the three days had already elapsed, it is unclear if a demolition notice has been served on the palace project handlers.
The new Orimolusi Palace building – some say it is not a palace but a “heritage centre” – is a federal constituency project facilitated by Hon. Abdel-Majid Adesegun Adekoya, the Member representing Ijebu-North / Ijebu-East / Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency in the current House of Representatives. Hon. Adekoya is popularly called “Attacker” in Ogun State politics.
On 4 January, 2022 Ijebu Igbo got the Orimolusi-Elect, Prince Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adebajo, after a 27-year court battle over the revered thrones which was adjudicated upon by the Supreme Court last year.
Since then, the Ijebu Igbo people and friends of the town have been waiting on the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to ratify Prince Adebajo’s election as the Orimolusi. Consequently, the news of a demolition notice on the new Orimolusi palace has been received as a rude shock by the Ijebu Igbo people as they ramp up activities preparatory to the coronation of the Orimolusi – a grand event in which all strata of Ijebu Igbo society are heavily invested.
This is a serious matter o.
Point of correction, it is not palace but heritage center