The Oyo State Government has dismissed as false and mischievous reports claiming that it demolished a property belonging to a former Deputy Governor of the state, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan, for political reasons.
The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Akin-Funmilayo Williams, debunked the alleged demolition on Wednesday when he led officials of the ministry and journalists to the location said to be affected by the demolition.
Williams clarified that no residential or commercial structure belonging to the former deputy governor was touched, explaining that only an illegally erected fence that blocked an access road was removed.
According to him, the action followed repeated complaints from residents of the area, who alleged that the fence obstructed movement and access to the main road.
He said statutory notices were duly served on those concerned before the enforcement exercise was carried out.
The commissioner further explained that even the approval being cited by the affected party, allegedly obtained from the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, expressly prohibited the blockage of the access road linking the community to the expressway.
He added that the land being linked to the former deputy governor is an undeveloped plot with no structure close to the fence that was removed, stressing that it would be illogical for the government to demolish a “property” where no building exists.
“The narrative being pushed is misleading. What was removed was an illegal fence that contravened planning regulations and public access rights.
There was no demolition of any building, talk less of a personal property belonging to a former public office holder,” Williams said.
Some residents of the community, who also spoke during the visit, said several attempts had been made to resolve the matter amicably.
They alleged that these efforts were unsuccessful, claiming they were subjected to intimidation and harassment, which eventually forced them to seek redress through official channels.
The government’s clarification followed an online report which alleged that the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde had demolished properties belonging to his former deputy, Remi Olaniyan, as an act of political vendetta.
The report had claimed that officials from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Control arrived at Olaniyan’s property along the Ojoo Expressway in the early hours of January 14, 2026, and commenced demolition on the directive of the Commissioner for Lands.
The publication further alleged that the action sparked outrage and raised concerns over abuse of power and the targeting of political opponents, noting that Olaniyan had been critical of the Makinde administration since leaving office.
However, the state government maintained that the claims were entirely false, politically motivated, and aimed at misleading the public, insisting that the exercise was strictly a routine enforcement of planning laws in the interest of compliance to urban planning.