The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the last Nigerian election, Peter Obi has called on Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to carefully consider the potential hardship and human impact of ongoing demolition exercises across Lagos.
In a statement released on X, Obi urged Gov. Sanwo-Olu to “put a human face to his policies and govern with compassion” when carrying out demolitions of allegedly illegal structures.
“while we should enforce sensible regulations, all actions of government must show compassion,” he added.
Obi stated that while public order is important, governments have an ethical obligation to implement demolitions and forced evictions in a humane way that respects citizens’ welfare and human rights. He asked Sanwo-Olu to suspend any demolitions that would render large numbers of Lagos residents homeless or severely undermine their livelihoods.
The presidential hopeful also offered assistance to find constructive arrangements that benefit both the people and plans for Lagos.
There has been outcry by affected residents as the government undertakes what it calls a move to restore sanity.
Many also claimed that the demolition was notoriously discriminatory and unjust, especially against the Igbos.
The government, on its part, insisted that the affected structures were being demolished because they contravened the state’s laws.
However, the former Anambra State governor, in a post on his X handle on Thursday, was of the opinion that the government should have come up with measures aimed at alleviating the people’s hardships considering the current harsh economic conditions in the country.
He said even if there were some violations as the governments claimed, this time was not auspicious for such an exercise, knowing the hardship in the land and the consequences it would have on the poor.
“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 life time 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.”
