Burial Dispute: Police presence at Ajimobi’s residence

Policemen attached to the Oyo State Command have taken over the Agodi GRA residence of deceased Ex-Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

The property, which was the preferred family choice to bury the late Governor, was reportedly not approved by the State Government due to ligitation over ownership.

According to journalists who visited the location, two police vehicles, a Hilux patrol van of the State Anticrime outfit, Operation Burst and a white Kia Rio used for State Security patrol were parked beside the building with stern- looking security operatives.

The delay in burying the remains of former governor of Oyo State Abiola Ajimobi has become a subject of controversy between his family and the Oyo State Government.

Reacting to news of the perceived controversy, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Taiwo Adisa said in a statement that: “In view of the intense enquiries from news media organisations  regarding the perceived delay in burying the late former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the Oyo State Government wishes to place on record that there is no truth in the rumour making the rounds that the burial is being delayed by the state government.

“The rumour, which is being deliberately spread to give the state government a bad name  and to play undue politics with the dead, initially came by the way of social media gossip, which gained traction to attract the attention of traditional media outfits.

“Let it be stated clearly that the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has played no role at all in causing any delay whatsoever regarding the burial of his immediate predecessor, Senator Ajimobi.

“The truth of the matter is that the family, through a proxy, approached the state government and sought approval to bury the late governor on a plot of land at Agodi GRA, which is currently under litigation.

“Incidentally, it was the same former Governor Ajimobi who instituted the legal action.

“Governor Seyi Makinde had no choice than to state the facts as they are to the emissaries and turn down the request.

“Governor Makinde, however,  against the established land use rule in Oyo State, gave approval that the family can bury the late governor in his Oluyole Estate residence.

“It is to be noted that the rules guiding land use in Government Reservation Areas (GRA) forbid the burial of bodies in such locations as Oluyole Estate and Agodi GRA.

“Let us also put on record that whereas the family did not follow the laid down protocols in passing information on the sickness and eventual demise of  Senator Ajimobi, Governor Makinde overlooked all that and directed the full cooperation of the government with the family on this matter.

“It can only amount to a wicked lie to insinuate that the incumbent government in Oyo State attempted to obstruct the burial of the immediate past governor.”