The governor of Edo State “Adams
Oshiomole” has said that the state government served authorities of the
University of Benin a notice, three years ago, to vacate 18 properties
belonging to the state government, but rather than vacate, they took the
government to court.
The governor added that to
fulfill all righteousness, the government waited for the court to deliver its
judgment, which it did on December 16, last year, ordering the university
authorities to vacate the said property “forthwith” ruling that the 18 property
belonged to the state government.
According to him, having waited from
December 16, 2014 for the illegal tenants to vacate the property and they
refused, the government took steps granted by the court to recover the property
in the interest of the people of the state.
Fielding questions from journalists
on the issue, Oshiomhole said that as the governor, he has a duty and
responsibility to hold in trust and protect all assets belonging to the people
of Edo State that were entrusted to the government of the state.
On how the property got to the
university authorities, he said: “As I am sure you will recall, when UNIBEN was
set up, the then Military Governor, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, in his wisdom,
decided as a young institution to assist some of the officers and staff with
accommodation and so, some houses were made available to accommodate some of
the staff of UNIBEN.
“However, they had occupied these
property without paying any rent to Edo State Government but a couple of years
ago, just before I assumed office as governor, the Federal Government in line
with the policy of monetization under which salaries of employees including
other allowances were abolished so that rather than provide these for certain
categories of public officers, they were to be paid in lieu of either official
quarters or cars.
“As a result of the decision, my
predecessor in office, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor, disputed the claim of the
Federal Government and the University of Benin that these assets from our
records were assets of Edo State Government.”
The governor said shortly after
assuming office, he was approached by counsel of the University of Benin asking
him to sign some documents to transfer the landed property to the university
which he declined, saying, “I told him that if UNIBEN needs any favour from Edo
State Government, I expect the leadership or the VC to approach the Government
of Edo State for such a favour, not to approach us through their legal adviser.
“I also reminded him that I am aware
and it is the truth that salaries of lecturers, academic and non-academic staff
had been monetized and even the salary of the VC was now over N1.5 million
monthly because the provision for official quarters, car and driver had been
monetized and added to their pay. In any event, the official lodge of the Vice
Chancellor is within the premises of the University of Benin at Ugbowo and so
he is not entitled to hold several other government properties. He is not
even entitled under the Federal Government policy now to occupy the official
lodge of the VC except he pays rent for it.”
As Edo PDP condemns
demolition EDO State Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, has condemned the demolition of the University of Benin property given to
the institution by the Dr. Samuel Ogbeudia administration at the inception of
university.
The property serving as the official
residence of the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof.
Osayuki Oshodin and some lecturers of the university were demolished by the
state government on Monday.Speaking with newsmen shortly after
visiting the site of the demolished buildings, Edo State Chairman of the
PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said: “I saw the destruction of the official residence of
the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Oshodin, on
the order of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
“For us in the PDP, we condemn in
strong terms the demolition. Government is about service to the people and not
about demolition of property.
“It is government’s obligation to protect lives and property. I appeal to
Oshiomhole to stop the demolition of UNIBEN property. You don’t need to
go to war to prove that you are the governor. We need peaceful
co-existence of all residents in Edo State.
“What happened is sad, barbaric and
has brought the state back 20 years and has reminded us of the Stone Age,” he
said.
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MARD MEDIA
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