Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has called on the Lagos State government to exercise compassion in its ongoing demolition of structures at the Trade Fair Complex, describing the operation as a moral test of governance.
Obi made the appeal after visiting the site of the demolished ASPAMDA Market, where he criticised the destruction of traders’ plazas, saying being “legally correct is not a substitute for being morally right.”
In a statement on his X handle on Tuesday, Obi cautioned that while upholding the law is important, it must not be used to “inflict undeserved pain” or destroy people’s livelihoods when less harmful alternatives exist.
“Those seeking to justify the current demolitions in ASPAMDA Market and similar situations across Nigeria must be reminded that the law is not an end in itself; it is a means to ensure order, peace, and the protection of human dignity,” he said. “When the law becomes an instrument to inflict pain without compassion, it ceases to serve justice.”
He questioned whether demolition was the only option available, asking: “Does it truly serve justice to destroy billions of naira worth of investments and livelihoods when less destructive remedies could have sufficed?”
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, had earlier defended the demolition as lawful, arguing that affected traders were given ample time to regularise their documents during a general amnesty period that was extended several times.
Omotoso also accused Obi of engaging in “emotional theatrics” when he described the demolition as a “test of impunity, justice, and compassion.”
Despite the government’s justification, Obi maintained that true leadership requires balancing legality with humanity, urging the state to prioritise justice and empathy in dealing with citizens.
