Following the demolition of the Alaba International Market in Lagos State, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural group urged President Bola Tinubu to persuade Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to temper justice with mercy for Igbos in the state.
On Friday, the Lagos State Government began the process of removing dilapidated buildings from the Alaba International Market in the state’s Ojo Local Government through its enforcement team comprising the State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, and the Lagos State Task Force.
According to the team, the measure was to prevent disasters in the State
Reacting to the development, Ohanaeze’s Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, pleaded with Tinubu to call on Governor Sanwo-Olu to temper Justice with Mercy and stop the demolition.
According to him, the halt of further demolition of Alaba and other Igbo-populated markets would make Igbos to continue supporting Asiwaju’s government and make him to succeed, Daily post report.
He further warned the Igbo’s to stop playing bad politics and face what bring them to Lagos because it’s affecting their businesses.
Isiguzoro said: “We have been informed that the demolition of some parts of Alaba International Market has began; most of those who called us said they were given only three hours.
“Most of them complained that they are being witch-hunted due to the 2023 general elections; they complained that they are systematically trying to make them leave Lagos by destroying their properties.
“We want to beg Mr President to call Sanwo-Olu that the best thing to do at this point is to temper justice with mercy. We would not accept that this is a political witch-hunt or issue threats on the crisis that has befallen Igbos in Lagos.
“At this moment in time, Igbos should stop politics and concentrate on what they are looking for in Lagos.”
He explained that the organization had earlier told Igbos to relocate the headquarters of their businesses back home to have a fallback position when politics are targetted against them.
He added, “Our Republicanism should end in the Southeast; they should not take it to Lagos. Some people threatened Igbos to leave Lagos, but we won’t leave any part of Nigeria for anybody because we have contributed to the development and building of economies with every state and local governments in Nigeria.
“Igbos are Nigerians, so Ohanaeze is saying that the demolition of Alaba International Market is a wake-up call for Ndigbos to come and invest in Eyimba economic city.
“Ndigbos should stay in Lagos, but they should stop playing bad politics because it’s affecting their businesses.”