The Governor Dapo Abiodun-led Ogun State Government has begun the demolition of structures in the state’s forest reserves.

Commissioner for Forestry, Hon. Tunji Akinosi confirmed this in a chat with our correspondent on Thursday.

According to him, the government has embarked on the removal of what he called illegal shanties and enclaves from its forest reserves.

Akinosi explained that the exercise was not peculiar to J3 in Ijebu East, adding that a similar operation was carried out last week at J1.

While saying the exercise would be continuous, the Commissioner said it was aimed at ridding the forest reserves of illegal occupants and loggers.

“It (the demolition exercise) is the removal of illegal shanties and enclaves in our forest reserves. It is not peculiar to Ijebu East J3.

“We were at J1 reserve on Thursday last week and it will be continuous as the government is desirous in ridding ALL our reserves,” Akinosi said.

However, it appears the Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Hon. Wale Adedayo, was not pleased with the actions taken by the State Government.

On his Facebook page, the Chairman condemned those behind the demolition, raining curses on them.

The Chairman revealed that “arson and other destructions have been happening in J3, near Ogbere, since four days ago.”

Sharing photos of structures demolished, Adedayo lamented that: “We cannot continue like this in Ijebu East Local Government. These are the poorest of the poor being dehumanised by destroying their farms and houses. Great Awo will NEVER allow some of us to rest IF we allow this to continue.”

In Yoruba language, Adedayo added that, “Sugbon, ki awon eeyan wa pada sile. Omo Oba kankan ko gbodo ja ogun bi eru. Isese ni ki e pada si o! Ti won o ba pada, e je ki a be awon aye lowe won.

“Ki Omo won saisi. Ki awon paapa beere si ri irikuri. Ile ni ki e pada si o! E je ki a pada so odo awon Baba wa! Ile ya o!!! Meaning, “But, let our people go back home. A prince doesn’t fight like a slave. Go back to tradition. If they don’t return, let’s seek spiritual intervention. May their children die. May they themselves begin to see bad things. Go back home. Let’s return to our fathers. It’s time to go home.”

Reacting, Hon. Akinosi described Adedayo’s comment as dramatic, saying “This is drama.”

He asked the Local Government boss to contact the Ministry if he has any questions or needs any clarification.

“Please ask the chairman to get in touch with the Ministry of Forestry if he has questions or clarifications as I can inform you categorically that he has not informed or gotten in touch with us,” Akinosi replied.

Our correspondent reports that indigenes of Ijebu East have been reacting to the demolition of the structures in the forest reserves.

A legal practitioner, Taofik Lawal, threatened to take legal actions against the state government, saying the government should have redeemed its forest through due process of the law instead of self-help.

“Wale Adedayo may have to give me facts of this case. We may file legal action against the perpetrators. No one is above the law.

“Assuming, without conceding that these people have committed some wrong, the law does not permit self-help. You have to redeem the wrong done through the due process of the law. 2 wrongs don’t make a right. It is important, we fight for our people against oppression and tyranny,” Lawal submitted.

In his words, one Odusanya Charles lamented that the government had earlier set ablaze a bridge constructed with community efforts at Laigan.

“This is another one again in the same Ijebu East LG, just because you’re occupying a position that will only last for 4 years if God says yes. Ogun West and Ogun Central are also part of Ogun State. Why Ogun East? Why Ijebu East? We’re going to do it legally, before it gets out of hands,” Charles complained.