By Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta
Scores of youths in Ogun State under the aegis of “Coalition of Ogun Progressive Youths” and students, on Wednesday morning took to major roads within the Abeokuta metropolis to protest against the state government’s planned demolition of a business premises belonging to Mr Taiwo Oladotun, a close ally of Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Ogun State APC governorship standard bearer in the upcoming 2019 general elections.
The group described the state government’s decision io clamp down on supporters if Abiodun as anti-poor and anti-masses policy, noting that the demolition notice and withdrawal of business premises approval were acts of vendetta.
The group, in a statement jointly signed by its convener, Mr Adeyemi Azeez and Idris Salami, secretary, shortly after protesting at the NUJ Press Centre, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, accused the governor of threatening perceived persons opposing his political interests in the state.
According to them, the business premises harbour hundreds of youths in the state as employees.
They said: “if the planned demolition was carried out, many youths would be thrown out of job, thereby increasing the mass number of unemployed youths in the state.
“If at this point in time, the progressive – minded citizens fail to speak, history would never forgive us, neither would posterity judge us well.
“The joint leadership of the above named bodies taught it expedient to react and register our displeasure with the pronounced executive recklessness of the governor of Ogun state, such acts have in recent times amounted to threats to democracy and freedom and rights of Ogun citizens.
“We made bold to take to the streets of Abeokuta this morning to protest the anti-poor and anti-masses acts of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on the demolition notice and withdrawal of approval of the business property of Hon Taiwo Oludotun given years back. This is a business venture that had been under smooth running for over 8years.
“It will interest the general public to know, that Governor Amosun had been known to threaten any perceived persons that go in other direction politically to the interest of Amosun.
“Hon Taiwo Oludotun is a known hope of the masses, an employer of youths, a philanthropist and a kind-hearted man to all and sundry.”
They, however, called on President Muhammad Buhari to urgently prevail on Governor Amosun not to truncate the hope of the masses based on selfish interests.
