Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has criticised the ongoing demolition of properties in Lagos and other States of the federation urging all governments in this act to consider the hardship in the country and try to put a human face to their actions.
This comes on the heels of the controversy trailing the demolition of illegal structures in Lagos, as the government undertakes what it called a move to restore sanity.
Though the Lagos State government had pointed out that the affected structures were being demolished because they contravened the state’s laws, critics described the development as an attack on the Igbos in the State.
While reacting to the development in a statement on Thursday, via his X account (formerly Twitter), Obi said the incident is not timely and well-thought-out.
“It’s with complete despondency and unhappiness that I have followed the ongoing demolitions of properties across the country, especially knowing the extra hardship such acts have been heaping on hapless citizens who are already battling with multi-dimensional Poverty.
“What a responsive government should be doing under the current harsh economic conditions in the country is to come up with measures aimed at alleviating the people’s hardships and to carry out measures that will take more people out of poverty.
“Even if there are some violations as the governments are claiming, this critical time is not auspicious for such an exercise knowing the hardship in the land and the consequences it will have on the poor who are struggling to make ends meet with their little resources.
“The poor in our midst who are putting their meager resources are going through very severe financial stress that should not be multiplied further. In some cases, the properties being demolished are the lifetime savings and retirement abodes of the aged and incapacitated.
“My appeal therefore is for the respective governments involved in this act to consider the hardship in the country and try and put a human face to their actions. While we should enforce sensible regulations, all actions of government must show compassion,” he wrote.
