Former Minister of Education, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili has charged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to show proof that the demolition of some ‘distressed buildings’ in Alaba International Market is not a vengeful political attack against the predominant Igbo community in the popular market.
Ezekwesili threw the challenge in a tweet on Tuesday.
On Sunday, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) escorted by heavily-armed officials of Lagos Task Force stormed the market located in Ojo local government area and demolished 17 plazas.
On Friday, officials of the agency led by General Manager, Gbolahan Oki went to the market to mark the buildings for demolition after the government said it had issued several notices to the occupants of the structures to vacate since 2016 but such notices were ignored.
The state government reiterated that it took the decision to demolish the buildings to avert looming disaster.
However, some leaders of the market union alleged that the government plans to take the market from them and hand it over to some Chinese investors who reportedly want to establish a multipurpose market.
The market leaders added that neither the local government nor the state government notified them of the demolition even though both governments know all the leaders of the market.
Reacting to the controversy surrounding the demolition, Ezekwesili said, “The Governor Sanwo-Olu-led @followlasg on Friday started the process of removing what it described as distressed buildings in the Alaba International Market in the Ojo Local Government Area”.
“I have a Policy advice for @jidesanwoolu that would be helpful for all sides and the public.
“Mr Governor, please immediately publish details of each destroyed building and the dateline of Due Process rules that were exhausted by your Government before it was “removed”.”
Ezekwesili said it would be wise for the governor to take her counsel on Transparency and Full Disclosure since it would provide evidence to the public that this is not a vengeful political attack against the predominant Igbo community in Alaba Market.
“Let me also use this opportunity to really again advise the (Lagos State Government) and its cheerleaders including (President Bola Tinubu) to be careful in persisting to brew a terribly toxic atmosphere against fellow citizens since before, during and after the 2023 elections.
“Governance by maliciousness does no one any good. A word is sufficient for only the wise,” the ex-minister said.