The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has raised alarm over what he described as the worsening state of lawlessness and disregard for citizens’ rights in Nigeria.
In a statement posted on his X page on Wednesday, Mr Obi recounted how his younger brother’s company property in Ikeja, Lagos, was invaded and demolished by unidentified individuals without a valid court order or demolition permit.
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He disclosed that he received a frantic call from his brother, who just returned from Port Harcourt, only to find the property under demolition and was barred from entering by security personnel who claimed the process had commenced over the weekend.
The former Anambra State governor said he immediately travelled to Lagos from Abuja upon hearing the news.
When he arrived at the scene, he was initially denied access to the premises but was eventually allowed to engage the security operatives overseeing the demolition.
Mr Obi said he demanded to see the court judgment authorising the demolition and was presented with a document purportedly issued against “an unknown person” and squatters.
He raised concerns about the legality of a judgment against unnamed individuals and insisted that no
demolition permit or formal order was provided.
“How do you sue an unknown person? How does a court issue a judgment in such a case? No one was served, no names were mentioned, yet excavators arrived and began pulling down a structure that had stood for over 15 years,” Mr Obi questioned.
According to him, even the demolition workers and the contractor on site could not identify who commissioned the operation.
Despite waiting at the location from 10 am to 2:00 PM and sharing his contact details with the workers, Mr Obi said no one called or stepped forward to claim responsibility.
Two men later suggested visiting a nearby police station, but they also failed to present any authorising documents, further fuelling suspicions that the demolition was carried out in bad faith.
He condemned what he described as a “coordinated act of lawlessness and impunity,” lamenting that such incidents erode investor confidence in the country.
He recalled a recent conversation with a businessman who said he had investments in Ghana, Senegal, and Benin Republic but deliberately avoided Nigeria due to its “lawless environment.”
“If this can happen to someone with legitimate business registration and known ownership, what hope is there for the ordinary Nigerian?” Mr Obi asked.
The former governor also referenced his personal experience of alleged human rights abuses since contesting the presidential election, saying his ordeal pales in comparison to the daily struggles of small business owners and vulnerable citizens.
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The 63-year-old stressed that a nation where lawlessness overtakes the rule of law cannot attract meaningful investment or build a secure and prosperous society.
He reiterated his commitment to building a “new Nigeria” grounded in the protection of life and property, respect for human rights, and care for the less privileged.
