Senator Victor Umeh has revealed that Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate owns more than 200 shops in the Trade Fair Complex recently demolished by the Lagos State Government.
NATIONAL POST recalls that the demolition has been attracting condemnation, with the Lagos State Government defending its action.
It went as far as stating that some states in the South-East carried out similar action in the past.
However, Umeh, speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise programme, disclosed that Obi owns more than 200 of the affected shops.
The senator representing Anambra Central said that Obi was among the original developers of the complex.
“Over 70 percent of the traders in that complex are our people. You can’t just intimidate or displace them without following due process.
“Mr Peter Obi is one of the developers in that Trade Fair Complex. He owns a plaza with over 200 shops there, dating back to 1995, and serves as a patron to all the associations operating in the area.”
He added that the former governor could not ignore the distress of affected traders who had reached out to him following the demolition.
“People contacted him because they were being treated unfairly. How can you accuse him of acting provocatively when the Lagos State Government itself acted outside the law?” Umeh queried.
The senator also alleged that the land in question did not belong to the Lagos State Government, insisting that the demolition was carried out “illegally and in bad faith.”
