The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State has condemned the state government over the reported conversion of the Cheshire Home land in Eleyele, Ibadan, to a private estate, describing the development as shameful and an affront to the interests of vulnerable citizens.
The party, in a statement by its state chairman, Prof. Rahman Akinoso, said it received with disdain a statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, defending the government’s action on the grounds of due process.
According to the PDP, the invocation of due process does not justify a decision it considers detrimental to the interests of persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged members of society.
Cheshire Home, established in 1959, provides care, medical treatment, education and vocational training for persons with disabilities, including children and adults, as well as support for rescued street youths.
The opposition party expressed concern that a government expected to protect vulnerable citizens could be involved in a process that, in its view, places the interests of private developers above those of a non-profit organisation serving disadvantaged people.
It accused the Makinde administration of using the instruments of government to undermine the interests of the less privileged and alleged that the Cheshire Home land controversy reflected a broader pattern of land-related disputes in the state.
The PDP said a responsible government should protect the property and welfare of persons with disabilities rather than allow facilities established to serve them to be converted to private use.
It vowed to challenge the decision and assured the management of Cheshire Home and other people it described as victims of land grabbing that the action would be reversed.
The party also urged residents to use their votes to reject the continuation of what it called official land grabbing, arguing that the issue should be considered in assessing the state government’s record.