Conversion of Obasabjo’s Hill-top mansion to commercial use a poses a serious security threat- APC Chieftain
A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress APC and a frontline politician in Ogun State has raised an alarm over the conversion of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo Hill-top mansion for commercial use, declaring that it’s a serious security threat to peace loving people of the state.
The man who pleaded anonymity disclosed that those who patronize the exquisite restaurant and bar are men of questionable characters, like yahoo, yahoo boyz, 419ers, drug peddlers among others.
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has converted his palatial Hilltop mansion in Abeokuta into a commercial hotel.
The mansion was commissioned when he was about leaving office in 2007.
It was built by Julius Berger.
Although the reason for the conversation of the residential apartment to commercial purposes is not yet known, the complex now goes by the name ‘GREEN LEGACY HILLTOP.’
Speaking with Daily Dispatch, he said; “If Obasanjo dies I suggest government takes over the house. That house is a treat to everybody in Abeokuta. Those who patronize the place are 419ers, yahoo, yahoo boyz . If it were to be an ordinary person government would have taken over the place.
“That land is a serious security threat to the presidential lodge and to residents of quadrangle. It was because the house over- looks the presidential lodge that was why when Bill Clinton visited the state he was not allowed to stay there because when US security personnel saw it they asked who lives there and we said it’s owned by an ex-president, they said no Clinton cannot stay there, he was taken to Lagos that night via an helicopter.
“We take a lot of things for granted in this country, which should not be so”, he said.
The sprawling complex, according to sources’ has an underground bunker which houses the private quarter of the former leader.
The complex overlooks the Presidential lodge which houses high heel state visitors, including visiting heads of state.
President Muhammadu Buhari stayed at the Presidential lodge during his state visit to Ogun state last year.
Security sources who expressed deep worries over the latest development fear the development might make the Presidential lodge unfit to host future high valued personalities.
Services at new hotel is said to be very exorbitant. A bottle of coca cola drink goes for N1000 at the new hotel , while a can of Heineken beer goes for N3500.
A Standard room at the Green Legacy Hilltop goes for between N100, 000 and N120, 000 per night.
Due to the expensive nature of the services of the hotel most people in the modest state capital avoids the hotel.
But it is now the place of interest to Internet fraudsters who sees the new hotel as a status thing.
This clientele of the hotel is said to be causing ripples within the security circle as they fear the Presidential lodge may no longer be safe for the use of visiting high heeled officials because of its security implications. One security officer who spoke on condition of anonymity claims the state governor is aware of the development but he ( the Governor) could do nothing about it. According to him, ” the Governor sees the move by Baba as an attempt to start a needless quarrel with him(Amosun). ” He said the Governor has decided decided to turn a blind eyes to the development which clearly contravenes the statutes of the urban and physical development of the state.
