President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been called upon by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-political group to intervene in the planned demolition of some weak properties at the Alaba International Market, Lagos State.
Ohanaeze implored Tinubu to persuade the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to have mercy on the traders.
According to the Lagos State Government, the process of dismantling damaged buildings in Alaba International Market, Ojo Local Government, got underway on Friday; a collaborative exercise started by the enforcement team of the Lagos State Task Force and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
The team inspected many buildings that had previously received multiple quit seal notifications from LASBCA and claimed the action was taken to avert tragedy.
However, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the secretary general of the Ohanaeze, reacted by admonishing Igbos in Lagos State to cease engaging in unethical politics.
Isiguzoro claimed that poor politics was having an impact on Igbo businesses in Lagos.
“We have been informed that the demolition of some parts of Alaba International Market has begun; 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.
“Ohanaeze has already told Igbos to relocate the headquarters of their businesses back home to have a fallback position when politics are targeted against them.
“Our republicanism should end in the south-east; 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 government 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.
“We supported Sanwo-Olu during the elections, even when Tinubu lost Lagos, so we urge him to halt further demolition of Alaba and other Igbo-populated markets as this would make Igbos to continue supporting Asiwaju’s government and make him to succeed,” the secretary-general said.