Former presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has appealed to the Lagos State Government to show compassion in the ongoing demolition of structures at the Trade Fair Complex, warning that being legally correct must not replace moral responsibility.

In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, Obi said the demolitions at the ASPAMDA Market and other affected areas represent a test of governance, justice, and humanity.

He argued that the government should not wield the law as a weapon of destruction when less harmful alternatives exist to achieve compliance.

“The law must never be used to inflict undeserved pain or destroy livelihoods when less destructive remedies are available,” Obi stated.

The former governor recalled a personal experience abroad, emphasising that governments should prioritise legal remedies and dialogue over sudden demolitions that erase years of investment.

“Those seeking to justify the demolitions must remember that the law is a means to ensure order, peace, and the protection of human dignity. When the law becomes an instrument to inflict pain, it ceases to serve justice,” he added.

Obi compared the demolitions to “punishing a man who stole a bicycle with death instead of imprisonment” — a punishment he described as “grossly disproportionate.”

He therefore urged the state government to pursue a humane approach to urban enforcement.

“Governance must balance law with compassion. A government should not pride itself on being legally correct if, in the process, it becomes morally wrong. Justice, to be just, must be tempered with mercy,” he said.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, had earlier defended the demolition exercise, stating that affected traders were given ample time to regularise their documents after the government declared a general amnesty in 2024.

Omotoso described Obi’s comments as “emotional theatrics,” insisting that the demolitions were constitutional and necessary for restoring order and safety in the area.

Obi, however, maintained that true leadership is measured by how power is exercised over the vulnerable.

“These demolitions are a test of our collective humanity and compassion. Power must always be exercised with empathy,” he said.

https://x.com/PeterObi/status/1975435514451792164?t=ACZl9rJb2xqTVYirPHHu0w&s=19