Ibadan — Oyo State Governor, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi has defended the on-going demolition of illegal structures and shanties across the state, stressing that the urban renewal programme currently being executed by his administration was not meant to inflict unnecessary hardship on the lives of the people, rather, he said, it is aimed at giving the State the necessary facelift.

Governor Ajimobi while acknowledging the fact that the demolition exercise had forced the affected people to make some adjustments, assured that the current pain would soon turn into gains.

He said, "It is a known fact that Oyo used to being the dirtiest state in the whole of Nigeria. But today, even those coming from outside the state will testify that things are fast changing for the better. This, I think, should be our collective joy. So everything we have been doing has been with good intention and not to witch-hunt anybody. We know that it may bring some pains but I can assure you that the pains will soon turn into gains for us all in Oyo state."