By Chimezie Godfrey
The National Legal Adviser of All Progressive Congress,Dr.Muiz Adeyemi Banire,SAN,has cried out to all Nigerians of good conscience on the unjust persecution of his family by the Lagos state Government.
.He said that this outcry has become imperative because of the latest move by the Lagos Sate Government which it threatened the demolition of the Ikeja,Lagos residence of his 90 year old mother,Alhaja Sarat Banire.
According his statement, on the 14th day of November,2017 at about 6:00 am while on Lesser Hajj at saudi Arabia, a notice of contravention was purportedly served on the residence of his 90-year old Mother,Alhaja Sarat Banire,at her 24A,Remi Fani Kayode Street,GRA,Ikeja,Lagos by the agents of Lagos State Government from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development demanding within 24hours,proof of planning Permit obtained before the building was constructed.The contravention notice further threatened demolition of my mother’s two-bedroom bungalow within 48 hours of the notice.
He said he and his siblings acquired the lease of the property from Federal Govenment to serve as residence for his aged mother.He did not have any reason to rebuild the house or do any further construction.And that the notice served by the government requires that a building permit must be produced for an old building the existence of which predated the lease by which his mother became the occupier of that premises.
“How on earth could it be heard that a tenant is required to produce a building permit of a property that belongs to her LandLord within 24hrs otherwise she risked demolition of the building,he queried.”
Dr.Muiz said he had been expecting that,since he was the ultimate target having received several messages threatening him and his family members.”Very soon my properties shall become objects of demolition by the vindictive government that is out to wage war against real and perceived enemies.I am,therefore, not surprised to see that my aged mother’s residence is under attack,”he said.
He raised certain points that have become pertinent.He said,”It has never been heard that a tenant of a property shall be required to produce the permit by which the property leased to him was constructed.
“What urgency requires that the occupier of a premises be given just 24hours to produce a building permit of which he/she could not have been in possession.What urgency requires that the building be demolished within 24hours of issuing of a contravention notice if not vendetta.
“It is clear that Minister’s consent to the lease in accordance with the law is still under processing with the office of the Minister of Power,Works and Housing in Abuja and same has not come out which prevents the building from being developed.
“The building is not dilapidated and neither does it constitute danger to any life or property.What exactly brought this building within the context of demolition if not that it is linked to Muiz Banire,he queried.”
He sounded a note of caution to the Lagos State Government saying,”I am not daunted by all these acts of terrorism which it has embarked upon in recent times.My call for internal democracy in All Progressives Congress (APC),prevalence of rule of law and resistance to imposition came out of personal conviction to serve my creator in all ramifications and at every opportunity.
“I have no doubt that this latest gestapo tactic is in furtherance of the political victimization and oppression raging against me and my associates.I am ready for the sacrifice even if i have to in the process sleep on the street of Lagos.As the political repression continues,i urge all my followers and supporters to be calm.If God says that my ailling mother at the age of 90 will die in the hands of Governor Ambode,I give God the glory.”
