The former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate has condemned the growing lawlessness in Nigeria following the forced demolition of his youngest brother’s company property in Ikeja, Lagos.
In a statement, he highlighted how the erosion of the rule of law is driving away investors and undermining citizens’ fundamental rights.
“Any society where lawlessness overrides the rule of law is not destined to be a haven for investors,” he said, referencing recent reports that show Nigeria’s human rights situation has worsened significantly. He described the severe failures of the government in protecting civil liberties, personal security, and basic living standards.
Speaking from personal experience, he revealed the abuse of his own human rights simply because he contested the presidential election, a legitimate right in any democracy. “If this level of lawlessness can happen to someone with a registered company and legitimate means, what hope does the ordinary Nigerian have?” he asked.
He recounted the distressing incident where his brother, returning from Port Harcourt, was denied entry to his company’s property in Ikeja as a group of people had already begun demolishing the building. Security personnel told him the demolition had started over the weekend, with no prior warning or explanation.
Rushing from Abuja to Lagos, the former candidate found security guards attempting to block his access to the property. When he requested a court judgment authorizing the demolition, he was shown a judgment issued against an “unknown person” and squatters, with no demolition order or permit provided.
“How do you sue an unknown person? How does a court issue a judgment in such a farce?” he questioned. The demolition crew also claimed ignorance of who authorized the destruction, only that they were instructed to carry it out.
He waited from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in hopes of contact from those responsible but received no communication. Even when asked to accompany officials to a police station, there was no official order or legal backing for the demolition. The entire episode, he asserted, exposed “coordinated lawlessness and impunity.”
Reflecting on a recent conversation with a foreign investor who cited Nigeria’s lawlessness as a key reason for avoiding investment, he lamented, “Nigeria is a lawless country. Until we have laws that protect people, nobody will invest in Nigeria.”
He concluded with a call for urgent change: “What kind of country are we trying to build when citizens’ rights, lives, properties, and voices are trampled daily? I remain committed to a better Nigeria—where lawlessness is a thing of the past, and where protection of life and property, respect for human rights, care for the less privileged, and education for all children are guaranteed.”
“A new Nigeria is possible,” he affirmed. — PO
