Senator Victor Umeh has defended the visit of Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and South-East lawmakers to the site of the recent demolition at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, insisting the state government acted unlawfully.
Umeh, who joined the lawmakers on the inspection, said the demolition — carried out by the Lagos State Government — violated the rights of business owners and traders whose shops and goods were destroyed.
“People were doing their lawful businesses, and you moved in with machines to bring their buildings down, destroying shops with goods inside. It was shown on television; everybody saw it,” Umeh said on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday.
The senator stressed that most of the affected traders were of Igbo origin, and could not be left without protection.
“Over 70% of the people in that place are our people. You cannot go there, bully them, intimidate them, and abandon them,” he said.
Reacting to criticisms that Obi’s visit was provocative, Umeh disclosed that the former Anambra governor has deep personal ties to the complex.
“Mr. Peter Obi is one of the developers of that complex, if you don’t know. He has a plaza there with over 200 shops since 1995, and all the associations regard him as their patron,” Umeh revealed.
He added that Obi’s presence was a direct response to distress calls from affected traders.
“He cannot see people he’s closely associated with being treated unlawfully and keep quiet,” Umeh maintained.
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