Residents around Egbira Central Mosque, Okene have called on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to come to their aid over alleged plans by the Ohinoyi of Egbiraland, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Mohammed Anaje; director general of Government House, Alhaji Shaibu Oricha and deputy chief Imam of the Central Mosque, Alhaji AbdulKudus to forcefully take over their lands.
Chairman of the residents association, AbdulKareem Sadiq, who spoke on behalf of the residents, accused the trio of using the name of the government to perpetuate the land grabbing in Okene, to expand the mosque.
Sadiq alleged that in marathon meetings held in the palace the Ohinoyi who told the residents how the government of Kogi state was planning to take over the properties around the Mosque for the expansion of the Central mosque, adding that delegations would come to brief them about the development.
According to Sadiq, director general of the Government House, Alhaji Shaibu Oricha, has been threatening the residents that the government is capable of removing all of them forcefully if anybody rejects the proposal.
One of the residents, Momohjimoh Suleiman, said some of the houses that are around the mosque are older than the mosque, according to him, some of their parents donated part of their land to the mosque, including Alhaji Adamu Attah, the former governor of Kwara state who equally donated the land belonging to his mother to the mosque when there was need for an expansion then when he was the governor.
He said there has not been any official communication to families of the residents from the Kogi state government at the moment, all that they kept telling them is that the government is going to quit everybody from the place.
Momoh Jimoh said, If the government is interested in taking over a property belonging to an individual, a round table discussion is involved, using verbal Chanel as means of communication to the residents to suggest land grabbing methods.
They appealed to the Governor Ododo to call them to order, saying their actions are capable of destroying the image of his administration.
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