Lagos, Nigeria – In a deeply personal and impassioned statement that has resonated across Nigeria, former Presidential candidate Peter Obi has brought to light what he unequivocally describes as a “flagrant abuse of power” following the sudden and seemingly unlawful demolition of his youngest brother’s company property in Ikeja, Lagos. Obi’s harrowing account, shared widely, paints a stark picture of a nation grappling with escalating lawlessness and has ignited critical conversations about property rights, judicial integrity, and the very foundation of its governance.
Obi’s narrative, a powerful testament to the daily struggles faced by many Nigerians, begins with a chilling account:
Any society where lawlessness overrides the rule of law is not destined to be a haven for investors. Recent reports showing that Nigeria’s human rights indicators have worsened merely highlight severe shortfalls in government protection for civil liberties, personal security, and basic living standards.
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I know what I have been going through as a person in abuse of my human rights just because I contested a Presidential election which I have legitimate rights to do. So I imagine what small business owners, regular citizens, and vulnerable communities face every day. If this level of lawlessness can happen to someone with a registered company and legitimate means, what hope does the ordinary Nigerian have?
This morning, my youngest brother called me frantically, informing me that a group of people had invaded his company property in Ikeja, Lagos, and were demolishing the building. He had just come in from Port Harcourt and was denied entry to the property by security men who told him the building was being pulled down. They even informed him that this demolition had started over the weekend. As a peace-loving Nigerian, he quickly started processing to go to court immediately, not knowing what must have resulted in this, as they moved fast to destroy his home without any restraint.
I rushed to Lagos from Abuja after the call this morning and headed straight to the property. On arrival, I was met by security people who tried to bar me from entering the property. I humbly pleaded with them that the property belonged to my brother’s company, and from the records, the company had owned the property for over a decade. They told me they had a court judgment, and I immediately requested it. You would not believe that the court judgment they claim was issued against an unknown person, and squatters. I went further to ask about a demolition order or permit, and there was none.
How do you sue an unknown person? How does a court issue a judgment in such a farce of a case? No one was served. No name was written. Yet they showed up with excavators and began destroying a structure that had stood for over 15 years.
I immediately asked the excavators for the person who had sent them, and they said they didn’t know anyone, but they were only informed to come and demolish the house. I immediately told them to tell whoever it is that I would like to speak with them, if they can call my number, which I shared with the excavators, so that I can speak with whomever gave them the order to demolish the property.
I stood there from 10 am to 2 pm, waiting to get a call at least and nobody called or came. The contractor even said he didn’t know who sent him. Two men later came and said they would like us to go to a police station. I asked if they even had a demolition order but they had nothing. The whole situation screamed of coordinated lawlessness and impunity. Our country has become lawless.
I just started reminiscing about how just over the weekend, I had a meeting when someone told me how he has investments in Ghana, Senegal, and the Benin Republic, but won’t touch Nigeria despite his market being here. I asked him why. His answer was piercing: “Nigeria is a lawless country. Until we have laws that protect people, nobody will invest in Nigeria.”
I am just shocked. How did Nigeria get to this level of lawlessness?
What kind of country are we trying to build when the rights of citizens, their lives, their properties, and their voices are trampled upon daily?I remain committed to a better Nigeria where lawlessness will be a thing of the past, protection of life and property, respect for human rights, care for the less privileged, and basic education for all children.
A new Nigeria is POssible.
— PO
A Nation’s Cry: Nigerians React with Outrage and Solidarity
Obi’s candid revelation has sparked an immediate and widespread outpouring of support, outrage, and shared frustration across social media platforms. The incident, perceived by many as a brazen act of political intimidation and an affront to the rule of law, has reignited urgent conversations about Nigeria’s increasingly fragile democratic institutions and its ability to protect its citizens. The comments section of his post became a powerful forum for these concerns:
“Absolutely heartbreaking yet courageously honest.” Maina Mohammed Adam articulated the collective sentiment, stating, “This testimony is not just a cry for justice it is a mirror to the soul of our nation. When a country allows lawlessness to override due process, when properties can be demolished without notice, and when the vulnerable are left voiceless, it loses the very fabric that binds a society together: trust, equity, and justice.” This resonates with numerous reports highlighting how worsening human rights indicators reflect severe shortfalls in government protection for civil liberties and personal security.
A Clear “Flagrant Abuse of Power” and Echoes of Past Injustices.
Oluwaseunla Okanlawon condemned the act as a “definite, clear example of flagrant abuse of power.” The question of authority was paramount: “And this is totally unacceptable and the security operatives there didn’t know who gave the demolition order and which court gave the order, or do we now have fake Court and fake judges? The abuse of power speaks volume about those who governs our country… Very sad indeed. But, then, somebody should be held accountable and responsible for this…”
Christopher Okereke further affirmed, “Your statement is a powerful and heartfelt testimony that captures the pain and frustration many Nigerians feel in the face of deep systemic failures. It speaks not only to your personal ordeal but also to the broader crisis of governance, justice, and rule of law in Nigeria.” This incident draws chilling parallels to well-documented cases of alleged arbitrary demolitions in Lagos, most notably the 2016/2017 demolition of Otodo Gbame, where thousands of residents were forcibly evicted and rendered homeless without adequate notice, compensation, or alternative housing, despite court orders, underscoring a persistent pattern of disregard for due process by state authorities.
Suspicions of Political Motive. Many users explicitly linked the incident to political machinations. Omoleye Sowore stated, “I join all freedom-loving citizens in condemning the violation of Mr. Peter Obi brother’s rights; in demolishing his company without due regard for laws and due process, and it unconscionable that this is politically motivated according to Obi. No country can prosper on injustice and oppression. But most importantly, these injustices will not go unchallenged.”
Emma Chima directly concluded, “I strongly believe that this is political. It is about ‘if we can’t get at him directly, let’s get at him through his relatives’.” Ignatius E. Maduaka called for intervention: “If President Tinubu is a President for all, he will intervene in this matter considering a prominent figure like you is involved and a family member at that who was treated with lawlessness, regardless whether you are an opposition or not.”
Erosion of Trust and Investment.
The broader implications for Nigeria’s investment climate were repeatedly highlighted. The investor’s piercing words cited by Obi – “Nigeria is a lawless country. Until we have laws that protect people, nobody will invest in Nigeria” – found a strong echo among the populace. The alleged demolition without proper notice or court order, as Abba Promise noted, “is unacceptable. It’s disheartening to see lawlessness and impunity prevail, undermining trust in institutions meant to protect citizens’ rights.” This sentiment is particularly potent given past instances of controversial property demolitions in areas like waterfront communities or the persistent issues with land use charges, which have often led to citizen distress and deterred both local and foreign direct investment.
A Call for Empathy and Accountability. Oyotobo Abiola Tunde urged a shift in perspective: “I pray for people seeing the message from Mr. Peter Obi as politics that no one close to you or in your family will ever have to go through what this person experienced. Only then will you understand that this isn’t ‘content.’ Sometimes, we need to pause and show human sympathy, everything is not always about politics.”
Meanwhile, Ekezeh Ishioma Sabastine stressed the necessity of a functioning state: “The appeal in this message is clear: no nation can thrive under the strong oppress the weak under the shield of impunity. Until Nigeria secures the rule of law, protects citizens’ rights, and holds public officials accountable, the dream of national transformation will remain elusive.”
Validating Obi’s Principles.
Many commenters affirmed Peter Obi’s unwavering commitment to the rule of law. Olumese Moses stated, “Anytime Peter Obi makes reference to obedience to the law of Nigeria, I believe him. Not because he is right or that he is concerned about the law, but because he has lived it and has demonstrated it consistently. Even when the lawyers and judges turned against the law they were supposed to protect in the last presidential election, Peter Obi still went ahead to acknowledge the supremacy of the law. It did not matter to him that he obeys the law even in an obvious situation where others would have reacted differently. Peter Obi is a man that we should not only aspire to be our president, we need to study how his mind works.” Joseph Okoyomoh’s concise “Word” and Mazi’s call to “Be strong” further underscored the public’s confidence in Obi’s principles.
Anozie Nicholas powerfully quoted Dele Giwa: “No evil deed can go unpunished. Any evil done by man to man will be redressed, if not now, then certainly later, if not by man, then certainly by God, for the victory of evil over good can only be temporary.”
The Path Forward: Restoring Trust and Upholding Justice
The demolition of Peter Obi’s brother’s property stands as a stark symbol of the pervasive challenges confronting Nigeria’s legal and governance frameworks. It highlights the urgent need for a robust and impartial justice system, where due process is sacrosanct and no one, regardless of their status or political affiliation, is above the law.
As the nation watches this unfolding situation, the onus remains on authorities to provide transparent explanations, hold those responsible accountable, and reaffirm their commitment to upholding the rule of law. Only through such decisive actions can Nigeria begin to restore public trust, attract much-needed investment, and truly pave the way for the “New Nigeria” that Peter Obi and millions of citizens believe is “POssible.”
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