Tension in Edo as state government demolishes APC chieftain, Kabaka’s hotel

Tension heightened among members of the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) as the state government demolished a hotel belonging a chieftain of the party, Tony Adun, popularly known as ‘Kabaka’ and loyalist to National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

The state government said the hotel, T. Latifah Hotel, was demolished for violating building laws, insisting that the structure sat across a road in the Ugbor-Amagba axis of Oredo Local Council Area of the state.

Governor Godwin Obaseki had last year said no amount of blackmail would stop him from demolishing the building because it was built on government property, adding that the decision to demolish the structure had no political undertone.

“The deed of transfer being paraded by Adun, is also not registered with the state government,” it said, citing the court papers filed by Solicitor General of Edo State, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN).

It was learnt that Bulldozers and caterpillars were mobilised to the site for the exercise, while security operatives guarded the operation to ensure that thugs loyal to Adun in the area did not disrupt the process.

Leader of the security team cordoned off the area and urged residents and shop owners around not to panic while the exercise lasted.

Some officials, who monitored the demolition exercise, said the demolition was part of efforts to rid the state of illegal structures erected on government property.

Such illegal structures include public schools, waterways, roof eave-extensions and structures erected on the right of way of roads, streets, moats, river banks, TCN high tension lines, among others in Benin City and other locations in the state.

The Edo State Government had in October last year, through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, issued a seven-day notice to Adun to remove the T. Latifah Hotel and Suites.

The Obaseki administration had also insisted that the hotel was built on a property belonging to Ugbor Primary School and would be demolished to serve as deterrent to persons who are bent on building on government property.

Adun who is a staunch supporter of Oshiomhole was until the expiration of the former governor’s administration engaged as a private revenue contractor, but was sacked by the Obaseki administration.

Reacting to the demolition, Kabaka who spoke on the telephone, said the court had fixed Friday, February 7, 2020 for judgment in the suit, but was however saddened that the state government could not wait for judgment to be delivered in the case before pulling down the facility.

“We are still in court. I have injunctions against the government. Judgment is on Friday. I have Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of my house but I don’t have the C of O of the hotel. Let him go ahead and demolish it, 100 years is not forever,” he said.