DANIEL, FASHOLA BICKER OVER OPIC LAND

A cold war seems to be developing between Lagos governor, Babatunde Fashola,SAN and his Ogun State counterpart, Gbenga Daniel, over alleged encroachment on a landed property belonging to Ogun State.

The parcel of land located behind Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation (OPIC) plaza, on Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way, Ikeja, was said to have been illegally sold by some officials of Lagos State government to a Lagos businesswoman.

The development, it was gathered infuriated officials of OPIC who promptly reported the action to Governor Daniel for information and action.

After consulting with close aides, informed sources added, Daniel mandated his Chief of Staff, Yomi Majekodunmi, to dispatch a strongly worded letter to Fashola protesting the development and calling attention to the fact that the land in dispute was covered by a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O).

It was gathered that Daniel initially wanted to call Fashola directly to complain over the development but was advised to handle the matter formally for posterity sake.

Ogun State government, it was gathered had planned to use the land to construct an ultra-modern business complex and was set to commence work on the site but for the global economic meltdown, which affected the finances of the state government.

Effort to get both the Managing Director of OPIC, Kola Omobo and the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Bureau of Lands, Mr Ashafa, to comment on the development failed as repeated calls to the GSM lines of the two were unanswered. Even text messages sent to their numbers were also unreplied.