Suspend Planned Demolition Of Govt House Or Face Mass Action, TIB, AAC Warn Aiyedatiwa
The TakeItBack (TIB) Movement and the African Action Congress (AAC) have issued a stern warning to Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, demanding an immediate suspension of the planned demolition of buildings in the Alagbaka Government Quarters, Akure.
In a joint press statement released on Tuesday, the groups accused the governor of disguising the demolition exercise as a renovation project, alleging that the buildings, currently occupied by civil servants, have already been secretly sold to a yet-to-be-disclosed private developer.
The statement, co-signed by TIB Coordinator, Owolabi Patrick; AAC State Secretary, Akinnusi Emola; and former AAC gubernatorial candidate, Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, described the move as “anti-worker, inhumane, and greedy.”
“Governor Aiyedatiwa is pretending to be unaware of the ongoing demolition, but it is clear that his aides are merely fronting for him.
“He has promised units of the proposed estate to House of Assembly members and other politicians, showing that this is not about renovation but a clear case of corrupt enrichment,” the statement read
The groups gave Governor Aiyedatiwa a seven-working-day ultimatum to publicly apologize to civil servants and withdraw the demolition plans or risk mass protests.
“Our consultations with affected workers, Labour veterans, and stakeholders show clearly that the narrative of renovation is false.
“Even the T.A. Iwajomo House—an iconic structure built in honour of the state’s first Head of Service—has been marked for demolition. This is a legacy site, not a slum.”
They also criticized the governor for failing to address the pressing issues of insecurity and poverty in the state, accusing him of prioritizing personal gain over public service.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa neither has a real manifesto nor the people’s interest at heart,” said Owolabi Patrick. “He spent ₦775 million to repair a short fence, yet wants to demolish buildings housing poor civil servants.”
The statement called on workers to remain resolute and prepare for what it described as “mass actions” if the governor fails to meet their demands.
“There is no cause for lamenting. Nothing good can come from a government that thrives on deceit. It’s time to resist. It’s time to take our Sunshine State back,” Akinnusi Emola added.
The TIB and AAC also expressed solidarity with residents affected by the recent rise in insecurity, blaming the current administration for failing to maintain peace since Aiyedatiwa took office.
As of press time, the Ondo State Government is yet to respond to the allegations or the demands issued by the activists.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
