By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A prominent Nigerian opposition figure who placed third in the country’s 2023 presidential election has alleged “lawlessness and human rights abuse” in the West African nation following the demolition of a property belonging to his brother in the commercial capital, Lagos, by government.
Peter Obi, a former governor of South East State of Anambra, has been critical of what he calls poor governance in the most populous African country, where cost of living is on the rise amidst the free fall of the value of the local currency, Naira.
He alleged harassment on his person since after the 2023 election in which his Labour Party lost to the All Progressives Congress candidate, now President Bola Tinubu, querying the government’s commitment to civil liberties.
In a social media post on Monday, Obi recounted a frantic phone call from his youngest brother, who had just returned from Port Harcourt to find their company’s building being pulled down in Lagos.
No official demolition order from the court had been served and security personnel restricted owners from accessing the property, Obi stated.
“I rushed to Lagos from Abuja after the call this morning and headed straight to the property. On arrival, I was met by security people who tried to deny me entry,” Obi stated.
He added that when he asked to see the court judgment allegedly authorising the demolition, it was revealed to have been issued against unnamed individuals, which he described as a legal farce. “How do you sue an unknown person? How does a court issue a judgment in such a sham of a case?” he asked.
Obi said no demolition permit was presented and that the excavators on site were unable to name who had authorised the operation. He claimed he stood at the site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., waiting for someone to contact him, but no one did.
Two unidentified men later appeared and suggested going to the police station, but they too failed to provide any legal documentation. “The whole situation screamed of coordinated lawlessness and impunity,” he said.
Reflecting on the wider implications, Obi shared a recent conversation with a businessman who has invested in Ghana, Senegal, and Benin Republic, but refuses to invest in Nigeria due to concerns about legal instability. “His answer was piercing: ‘Nigeria is a lawless country. Until we have laws that protect people, nobody will invest in Nigeria.’”
Obi concluded by reaffirming his commitment to fighting for a more just Nigeria, where the rule of law prevails, and the rights and property of citizens are respected.
