Seyi Makinde,
governor of Oyo, says his administration went against the established land use
rule in Oyo state to give approval for the burial of Abiola Ajimobi, former
governor of the state, at his Oluyole Estate residence.
Ajimobi died last
Thursday of multiple organ failure following complications from COVID-19 at
First Cardiologist Consultant, Hospital in Lagos. He was 70 years.
The burial was
initially scheduled for Friday, but according to Bolaji Tunji, special
assistant on media to the former governor, the event was postponed following
consultations with the governments of Lagos and Oyo.
In a statement on
Saturday, Taiwo Adisa, the governor’s spokesman, said the state government is
not responsible for the delay of the burial.
He said the family
of the deceased had sought approval to bury the late former governor on a plot
of land at Agodi GRA, but the request was denied because the land was under
litigation.
But he said the
governor allowed the late former governor to be buried at his residence against
the state rules on land.
“In view of the
intense enquiries from news media organisations regarding the perceived delay
in burying the late former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the
Oyo State Government wishes to place on record that there is no truth in the
rumour making the rounds that the burial is being delayed by the state
government,” he said.
“The rumour, which
is being deliberately spread to give the state government a bad name and to
play undue politics with the dead, initially came by the way of social media
gossip, which gained traction to attract the attention of traditional media
outfits.
“Several media
outfits reached out to the Media Office of the Governor of Oyo State to make
enquiries on this barefaced lie on
Saturday.
“Let it be stated
clearly that the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has played no
role at all in causing any delay whatsoever regarding the burial of his
immediate predecessor, Senator Ajimobi.
“The truth of the
matter is that the family, through a proxy, approached the state government and
sought approval to bury the late governor on a plot of land at Agodi GRA, which
is currently under litigation. Incidentally, it was the same former Governor
Ajimobi who instituted the legal action.
“Governor Seyi
Makinde had no choice than to state the facts as they are to the emissaries and
turn down the request.
“Governor Makinde,
however, against the established land use rule in Oyo State, gave approval that
the family can bury the late governor in his Oluyole Estate residence.
“It is to be noted
that the rules guiding land use in Government Reservation Areas (GRA) forbid
the burial of bodies in such locations as Oluyole Estate and Agodi GRA.
“Let us also put on
record that whereas the family did not follow the laid down protocols in
passing information on the sickness and eventual demise of Senator Ajimobi, Governor Makinde overlooked
all that and directed the full cooperation of the government with the family on
this matter.
“It can only amount
to a wicked lie to insinuate that the incumbent government in Oyo State
attempted to obstruct the burial of the immediate past governor.”
Ajimobi was buried
amid tight security, on Sunday.
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