After Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, lamented over the “invasion and demolition” of company property belonging to his “youngest brother” in Lagos State, Reno Omokri has come out to react, saying, “Lagos is not a jungle”, adding, what happened to “Peter Obi’s brother has nothing to do with lawlessness”.
Read Full Story: Peter Obi laments as “youngest brother” company property gets “invaded and demolished” in Lagos
Reno Omokri’s Reaction
Posted on his official X account: “The issue with Peter Obi’s brother has nothing to do with lawlessness. Lagos is not a jungle. It is a state and city governed by laws. Peter Obi is not being victimised or targeted because he contested the Presidential election in 2023, as he claims. If he were being targeted, the bank in which he has substantial interests would not be doing so well as to make a 325% increase in profit under President Tinubu.
“The fact is that under the Tinubu administration, Peter Obi is having the best Financial Times of his entire life!
“By saying that a court cannot issue orders against “unknown persons,” Peter Obi once again betrayed the fact that he is a common trader, not an uncommon leader.
“I have a Master’s in Law from England, and any lawyer worth their salt knows that a court can convict or give orders against unknown persons.
“The correct legal term is ‘persons unknown’ and there are multiple case laws in Nigeria and other common law jurisdictions, including the case of London Borough of Barking Versus Persons Unknown, which is similar to the case allegedly involving Peter Obi’s brother.
“Peter Obi did not even come second during the election. He was third. If the government was going to target anyone, why leave the first runner-up, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and target a distant third-place desperado who was detained at London’s Heathrow Airport?
“This is the same way Peter Obi falsely raised an alarm about Landmark Beach Resort, part of whose property was LEGALLY demolished based on the principle of Eminent Domain.
“Nigerians may recall that Peter Obi had claimed at that time that Landmark Beach Resort was being targeted because of the Igbo ethnic origin of the property owner. This lie was busted by the fact that other properties owned by ethnic Lagosians were also demolished.
“In fact, the Oniru Family, a prominent Lagos Lukumi Yoruba family close to the President, suffered an even greater loss as their Beach Resort was torn down to make way for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
“However, Nigerians may also remember that when the Anambra State Government demolished the head office of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing company, Peter Obi said NOTHING, even though Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company complained that they were being victimised.
“Nigerians may even recall that as Governor, Peter Obi demolished Premier Brewery, Onitsha, as well as other structures, and declared that he would pay “no compensation”. This is even as some critics suspected his action was because he had invested his money in another competing brewery and was motivated to target a rival brewer like Premier Brewery.
“You see, fellow patriots, Peter Obi does not have a problem with any demolition, legal or illegal, carried out in the Southeast and by an Igbo-dominated State Government against a person of Igbo origin.
“His focus and issue are Lagos. Any time the Lagos State Government takes legal action against a prominent person of Igbo origin, Peter Obi is gleefully ready to weaponise the incident and use it to promote his dead 2027 Presidential ambition.”
Reply to Reno Omokri:
@onyeani_o wrote: “Dear @renoomokri,
“I have read your submission with keen interest and deep concern not because of your choice to disagree with Mr. Peter Obi, but because of the repeated pattern in which you prioritize political attacks over principled analysis.
“You refer to yourself as a Gospeller, a Table Shaker, and a Deep Thinker. However, on this particular issue, you seem to have ignored the most important questions that should concern anyone who truly believes in good governance, rule of law, and justice regardless of political leanings.
“Let us start with the core facts, which any objective observer should be curious about.
“Why was the business premises demolished in the first place?Was the structure marked illegal by competent authorities?Were there proper notices served, and was sufficient time given for evacuation?Was due process followed, and was the demolition proportional and humane in its execution?Who gave the order, and on what legal basis was it carried out?
“These are fundamental questions in any constitutional democracy. A deep thinker and table shaker would seek to answer these before diving headlong into partisan mudslinging. Whether the victim is Peter Obi’s brother or a complete stranger, the rule of law must be upheld.
“In your bid to discredit Mr. Obi, you skillfully strayed into unnecessary ethnic diversions, political recall, and legal pedantry. However, it is important to draw a distinction. This is not about Peter Obi’s presidential ambition or his past governance decisions this is about the right of every Nigerian citizen, regardless of political or ethnic affiliation, to be treated fairly and justly by the state.
“You argued that Lagos is not a jungle, and I agree. But that is exactly why we must scrutinize how and why the demolition occurred. Because when state power is used to demolish private property without clarity, transparency, or fairness, it begins to feel like the jungle you say it is not.
“Also, your comparison of this case with court judgments against persons unknown is a red herring. Yes, courts can issue interim orders against persons unknown in certain civil contexts such as trespassers or anonymous hackers. However, equating that with a government physically destroying a citizen’s means of livelihood without disclosing the grounds or engaging due process is a false equivalence. It’s not about legal jargon it is about justice.
“You also referenced demolitions in the Southeast and suggested Peter Obi remained silent. That may be true but two wrongs do not make a right. The standard must be consistent across the country: demolition must follow due process, no matter the region, the name, or the political affiliation.
“In fact, a sincere human rights advocate especially one who styles himself as a Gospeller should not pick and choose whose rights to defend. We must defend justice even for our political opponents, lest we risk creating a nation where no one is safe when out of favour.
“Your assertion that Peter Obi’s financial interests are flourishing under President Tinubu does not negate or excuse any injustice that may have occurred. Prosperity does not cancel out pain, and political rivalry does not erase the right to ask tough questions.
“If indeed you desire to ruffle feathers, may I humbly suggest that you start by ruffling those in power when they act without accountability no matter who is in office or where the action takes place. That is the mark of true patriotism and integrity.
“Let us remember that the role of public intellectuals and commentators especially those with large followings is to interrogate power, not cheerlead it. It is to protect the people from abuse, not protect abusers from scrutiny.
“Let us see the humanity in others before allowing our party colours or personal vendettas to blind us. Because at the end of the day, what is destroyed is not just property, but trust in justice and governance.
“That, Mr. Omokri, is the real table that needs shaking.”
