Tokunbo Wahab, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, has accused South-East politicians, particularly Anambra Senator Victor Umeh, of “selective outrage and hypocrisy” regarding demolitions in Lagos while remaining silent on similar enforcement actions carried out by governors in their home states.
The Commissioner’s comments, made in a social media post, were a direct rebuttal to Senator Umeh’s earlier condemnation of the Lagos State Government’s demolition of structures at the Trade Fair Complex.
Commissioner Wahab’s Position
Mr Wahab argued that:
- It is hypocritical for South-East commentators to loudly condemn Lagos demolitions but ignore similar actions by governors like Alex Otti in Abia State and Chukwuma Soludo in Anambra State.
- He insisted that every demolition action taken by the Lagos government is “backed by the law” and that the government remains committed to enforcing laws “irrespective of whose ox is gored!”
Senator Umeh’s Condemnation
Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central, had earlier described the Lagos demolition of parts of the Trade Fair Complex as “unlawful and unconstitutional.”
His core arguments were:
- Jurisdiction: Umeh contended that the Trade Fair Complex is federal property managed by the Federal Government through the Trade Fair Management Board. He accused the Lagos State Government of overstepping its jurisdiction and illegal “intrusion.”
- Approval Status: The Senator, a fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, also rejected claims that the demolished structures were illegal or built on canals, insisting that they were “duly approved by the Trade Fair Management Board.” He noted that Lagos State had never performed administrative duties on the land until the demolition.
