PDP Slams Ogun Govt Over Shanty Demolitions, Calls For Better Trading Spaces
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has strongly condemned the recent demolition of shanties by the Dapo Abiodun-led state government.
In a press statement issued on Saturday, the PDP highlighted the government’s failure to address the root causes of informal settlements and called for the provision of adequate trading spaces for affected residents.
According to the PDP, the emergence of makeshift structures in public spaces reflects poorly on the state government’s capacity to fulfill its constitutional duties, particularly the security of lives and property. The party described the demolition as a “huge indictment” of the Abiodun administration, accusing it of failing to tackle the fundamental issues that force citizens into such “inhumane and indecent” living conditions.
The PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Asiwaju Akinloye Bankole, emphasized that the party has consistently urged the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government to prioritize the construction of low-cost lock-up shops in commercial centers. These facilities, the PDP argued, would provide legitimate trading spaces for residents and generate revenue for the government.
The statement criticized the government for not offering clear alternatives to those displaced by the demolition, accusing it of lacking compassion and foresight. Bankole argued that a proactive and responsible government should have provided alternative commercial spaces before carrying out the demolition.
“No man is happy or proud to live in such unfortunate circumstances. Shanties are for animals!” Bankole declared, adding that the government’s failure to conduct regular monitoring and oversight had allowed the shanties to develop in the first place. He described the administration as “lame and lazy” for transferring the consequences of its failures onto innocent residents.
The PDP called on the government to take full control of providing better shopping spaces, complete with environmental amenities, to mitigate the socio-economic hardships faced by the people. The statement concluded with a warning about the continued negative impact of the current administration’s policies on the state’s residents.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how the Ogun State government will respond to these criticisms and whether it will implement the PDP’s recommendations for more humane and effective urban planning solutions.
