Presidential Aspirant Peter Obi and the son of ace Juju musician and Member of the House of Representatives for Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, Hon. George Adegeye (alias “Omogeye”) led a delegation to the Auto Parts Plaza of the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos to commiserate with owners affected by recent demolitions by the government of Lagos State.
But the visit got a negative reaction from the Lagos State Government.
Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, issued a Wednesday October 1 statement, titled: “Obi (was) wrong on Trade Fair Complex.”
OBI’S VISIT
Obi and his companions held discussions with several stakeholders, including market leaders and captains of industries.
Their visit and meetings came the day following the Trade Fair markets’ joint protest that shut down the entire markets for most of Monday.
The protests left hundreds of customers and business owners at the complex stranded outside the complex.
Crowds of people hung around the flyover overlooking the complex, clearly frustrated over finding it impossible to gain access through all the locked gates.
PETER OBI ON X
Obi, writing on his X handle, on Wednesday after visiting the Lagos International Trade Fair site noted that many of the affected traders invested heavily – often through loans – in the hope of securing their livelihoods and contributing to the wider economy.
“Today, alongside Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Victor Umeh, Col. Austin Akobundu, Tony Nwoye, Honourable Members of the House of Representatives, Segun Sowonmi, George Adegeye, Labour Party Lagos State Gubernatorial candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and coordinator of the Obidient Movement Tanko Yunusa, we visited the site of the demolished ASPAMDA Market at the Trade Fair in Lagos, where plazas were pulled down despite traders having obtained the requisite approvals.
“I must commend the traders for their remarkable restraint and calm in the face of such painful loss. I equally appreciate the Senators and the House of Representatives members who have pledged to investigate this matter thoroughly and bring to light the circumstances that led to this unfortunate development, and most importantly, ensure that the situation does not occur in the future.
“Beyond this immediate case, I urge government at all levels to act with compassion, fairness, and a deep sense of justice, especially at this difficult time. Many of the affected traders invested heavily – often through loans – in the hope of securing their livelihoods and contributing to the wider economy. To destroy such legitimate investments without due process is not only unjust but also economically destructive.
“A society that seeks to make progress must protect enterprise, encourage productivity, and defend the dignity of its citizens. Incidents like this should have no place in a nation that aspires to fairness, stability, and shared prosperity.”
SUNNY ADE’S SON, HON. ADEGEYE
Accompanying Peter Obi was George Folarin Adegeye, the son of Sunny Ade, the ace music maestro, who was the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) and won the Amuwo-Odofin federal constituency seat in the March 2023 House of Reps polls.
LP’s Adegeye secured 46,702 votes to defeat Lanre Sanusi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 12,946 votes and Oghene Ego, the then incumbent legislator and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who came third with 5,752 votes.
The politician’s mother was Risikat Ajoke Adegeye, the late wife of Sunny Ade, who was also a former lawmaker at the Lagos State House of Assembly for Amuwo Odofin constituency 1.
She died on September 21, 2021.
LAGOS INFORMATION COMMISSIONER OMOTOSO’S STATEMENT:
“Ex-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has visited the Trade Fair Complex where Lagos State Government enforced its Physical Planning Laws.
“He praised the traders for what he called their “restraint”, adding that the buildings that were knocked down had approvals.
“He launched into emotional theatrics, describing the incident as ‘a test of impunity, justice and compassion’ –all in an effort to mislead the public by misinformation and disinformation. This is unfair.
“Here are the facts of the matter: The owners of the building have no approval. They got ample time to regularise their papers when the state government declared last year a general amnesty, which was extended several times. The owners shunned the offer. When Physical Planning officials visited the complex, the gates were locked against them; they were beaten up. The police rescued them. When the government called the owners for talks, they said they would not come; they did not come.
“Their defence is that the Management Board of the Trade Fair permitted them to build their structures. This is wrong. The board, which is a creation of the Federal Government to manage the complex, does not have powers to approve or regulate building developments within the complex independent of Lagos State Government. Physical Planning and building approvals are within the remit of State Governments. Under the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act (1992, as domesticated by Lagos State’s Physical Planning and Development Regulations), all physical development in any part of Lagos must obtain planning permit/approval from the Lagos State Government through its Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
“This position was further clarified and reinforced by The Supreme Court judgment of 2003 (Attorney-General of Lagos State v. Attorney-General of the Federation) that land use and physical planning fall under concurrent jurisdiction, and states retain the authority to regulate development control within their territories, including federal lands, except for core areas like military formations or exclusive federal enclaves.
“The Trade Fair Complex Board may manage leases, tenancies, and commercial activities, but any construction, alteration, or development still requires Lagos State planning permit. Otherwise, such developments would be deemed illegal under state law, and the Lagos State Government has the power to seal or demolish them.
“In other words, the Management Board can allocate spaces and give administrative consent, but building approvals must pass through Lagos State Government.
“We must decide the kind of society we want – one governed by law or one run by emotions, fuelled by political interests.”
