The flag-bearer of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential poll, Mr. Peter Obi has condemned the demolition of properties across the country.
In a statement posted on his X account (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Obi urged the government to act along the current realities of the country’s economy.
He said: “It’s with complete despondency and unhappiness that I have followed the ongoing demolitions of properties across the country, especially knowing the extra hardship such acts have been heaping on hapless citizens who are already battling with multi-dimensional Poverty.
“What a responsive government should be doing under the current harsh economic conditions in the country is to come up with measures aimed at alleviating the people’s hardships and to carry out measures that will take more people out of poverty.”
Obi also mentioned that the punishments to violators are too harsh, adding that the timing is wrong.
“Even if there are some violations as the governments are claiming, this critical time is not auspicious for such an exercise knowing the hardship in the land and the consequences it will have on the poor who are struggling to make ends meet with their little resources.
“The poor in our midst who are putting their meager resources are going through very severe financial stress that should not be multiplied further. In some cases, the properties being demolished are the life time savings and retirement abodes of the aged and incapacitated.”
The former Anambra Governor appealed to the governments involved in the act to consider the hardship in the country.
He also urged them to try and put a human face to their actions, stressing that the government must show compassion while enforcing regulations.
