Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the alleged demolition of his younger brother’s company property in Ikeja, Lagos, describing the incident as a reflection of growing lawlessness in Nigeria.
In a statement issued Tuesday via his official Facebook page, Obi expressed concern over what he termed the worsening disregard for the rule of law and civil liberties, warning that such trends could discourage both local and international investments.
“Any society where lawlessness overrides the rule of law is not destined to be a haven for investors,” he said. “Recent reports showing that Nigeria’s human rights indicators have worsened highlight severe shortfalls in government protection for civil liberties, personal security, and basic living standards.”
Obi said he was informed early Tuesday by his younger brother that an unknown group had begun demolishing a company-owned building in Ikeja. The brother, who had just returned from Port Harcourt, was reportedly denied entry to the premises by security personnel, who said the demolition began over the weekend.
“I rushed to Lagos from Abuja and went straight to the site,” Obi said. “Security men on ground initially attempted to stop me from accessing the property. I explained that it belonged to my brother’s company and had been in his possession for over a decade.”
He said when he asked to see legal documentation authorizing the demolition, he was shown a court judgment allegedly issued against an “unknown person” and squatters, with no specific defendant named.
“How do you sue an unknown person? How does a court issue a judgment without identifying the party involved?” Obi questioned. “No one was served. Yet they came with bulldozers and demolished a structure that had stood for over 15 years.”
Obi claimed he spent several hours at the site trying to get answers, but none of the officials or contractors present could provide clear information about who authorized the demolition.
“I stood there from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. waiting for clarification. Nobody called. The contractor even admitted he didn’t know who sent him. It was a clear case of impunity,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor also recounted a recent conversation with a West Africa-based businessman who cited Nigeria’s lawlessness as the reason for avoiding investment in the country.
“He said plainly: ‘Nigeria is a lawless country. Until we have laws that protect people, nobody will invest here,’” Obi noted.
He concluded by questioning the direction the country is heading, warning that the erosion of citizens’ rights, property, and voices undermines the nation’s future.
