Dapo Abiodun, the Ogun State Governor has knocked down the DATKEM Plaza, owned by Olufunke Daniel, the wife of the former state governor Gbenga Daniel, and the now incumbent senator representing Ogun East.
The Project Manager and Developer for the building, Olusegun Lawal, had in a statement disclosed that the demolition of the five-storey building situated at Folagbade Street, Ijebu-Ode, was carried out at about 3:00 a.m. early Sunday morning.
Mr Lawal had additionally, stated that the building, which had been in construction since 2009, had the complete approval from the state government and was slated to be commissioned by the end of September before the demolition had occurred.
Lawal had added that the building had no structural or quality issues.
He disclosed that the third floor of the now demolished building was to house the Ogun East Senatorial Office.
The destruction of the building is coming on the heels of rumours that had been circulating, about a purported raging rift between the incumbent governor and the former governor Daniel, who is now the senator for Ogun East.
It is not clear exactly, when the rift between the two began, as Daniel had supported Abiodun for the governorship position in 2019. But as the 2023 election drew closer, there were several hints that Daniel was nit openly supporting Abiodun’s re-election, but was working quietly to support Ladi Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate
Meanwhile, Lawal has expressed shock at the demolition of his property. According to him, the act was cruel and was done by the very person supposed to be safe-guarding the rule of law, and the lives and properties of his people.
Lawal had also added that the developer of the building had ensured that everything required from state government officials to be done and provided had been executed, so the demolition had truky shocked him.
Neither the governor nor the senator has publicly acknowledged their alleged ongoing feud.
This recent development, whether it was provoked or not, is definitely guaranteed to accelerate the rancour between the two.