Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has strongly condemned the ongoing demolition of citizens’ properties and businesses by government authorities across the country, describing the actions as “willful destruction” that deepens poverty and economic hardship.
In a post shared on his official X handle on Sunday, Obi criticized what he termed the government’s “lack of compassion,” arguing that demolitions being carried out without notice or due process are unjust and economically devastating for ordinary Nigerians.
“I like to reiterate my strong condemnation of the willful destruction of people’s property and goods by governments at any level without notice,” he stated. “These demolitions destroy livelihoods, undermine businesses, and threaten the economic security of hardworking citizens.”
The former Anambra State governor lamented that the affected structures and shops some containing goods worth billions of naira represent years of hard work and investment. He questioned the legality of such demolitions, asking whether they serve genuine public interest or represent “arbitrary and disproportionate exercises of power.”
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Obi further criticized the timing of the actions, noting that they occur amid rising poverty and economic hardship. “An administration whose policies and style have sent several million Nigerians into poverty in 29 months should show compassion for its citizens,” he wrote.
He urged governments at all levels to adopt urban development policies that respect due process, the rule of law, and citizens’ rights to property and livelihood. According to him, such demolitions send “a chilling message to entrepreneurs” that their “hard work and sacrifices can be wiped away overnight.”
Obi concluded by warning that continued disregard for citizens’ investments could erode confidence, stifle economic growth, and threaten social stability. “Every citizen has the right to build a life through honest work, and that right must never be trampled,” he asserted.