- Wasiu Adekunle Adejumo / Premier World News
The Labour Party (LP) has accused the Ogun State Government of “recklessly disposing of public housing assets”, including the historic Ibara Housing Estate and properties owned by the Ogun State Housing Corporation, warning that the alleged actions threaten the future of affordable housing and public heritage in the state.
In a sharply worded press statement issued on Monday, the party’s National Vice Chairman for the South West, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, called on former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, former Governor Olusegun Osoba, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo and other prominent leaders to urgently intervene and caution Governor Dapo Abiodun over the alleged sale of government-owned assets.
Arabambi alleged that the administration was transferring properties originally built with taxpayers’ funds, including the Ibara Housing Estate, Housing Corporation buildings and other estates, to private interests “under opaque and anti-people arrangements”.
He described the alleged sales as a “direct assault on Ogun State’s collective heritage”, arguing that these facilities were meant to serve civil servants and ordinary residents rather than be dismantled for short-term gains.
“You cannot correct administrative failures by selling off the people’s inheritance. This government is trading the future of Ogun State for short-term gains”, Arabambi said.
The LP condemned what it termed the absence of transparency in the transactions, asserting there had been no meaningful consultation with residents, labour unions, the Ogun State House of Assembly or traditional institutions before decisions were taken.
The party also noted that Freedom of Information requests related to the matter, submitted more than two months ago, were allegedly ignored by the state government.
As part of its demands, the Labour Party called for an immediate suspension of all housing asset sales and full disclosure of beneficiaries and processes, along with an independent audit of the Ogun State Housing Corporation.
The party further disclosed that its legal counsel, Prof. Yemi Oke (SAN), had been briefed to initiate legal proceedings against Governor Abiodun, the Secretary to the State Government, the Commissioner for Housing and the Ministry of Housing should the government fail to comply.
The LP warned that Ogun residents would resist any attempt to privatise public housing without due process, competitive bidding in line with established procedures and popular consent.
Government Responds:
In response, the Ogun State Government dismissed the allegations as “blackmail and reckless defamation,” accusing Arabambi of misrepresenting the ongoing urban renewal programme and acting out of personal resentment.
The government’s reaction was issued through Hon. Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the Governor.
Akinmade described the claims as misleading and deliberately aimed at distorting the state’s efforts to rejuvenate Government Reserved Areas (GRAs) such as Ibara, Idi-Aba, Igbeba (Ijebu-Ode), Ilaro, and Ota.
According to him, the programme focuses on rehabilitating old structures, constructing new housing units and providing modern infrastructure, including roads, drainage, water supply and electricity, rather than selling off public assets.
“The revitalisation of GRAs across the state is a global urban renewal practice aimed at transforming dilapidated sites into modern, vibrant smart cities”, Akinmade said, citing commendations from eminent Nigerians, including Obasanjo, the Alake of Egbaland and former Governor Osoba.
He emphasised that more than 150 housing units have already been completed under the programme, with plans for an expanded development covering significant hectares and hundreds of additional units.
Akinmade also alleged that Arabambi had previously expressed support for the government before becoming critical following perceived sidelining.
The government maintained that the initiative is part of a larger housing roadmap that includes the delivery of thousands of affordable housing units across the state, a direction affirmed by the Commissioner for Housing earlier this month.
