In the wake of the recent demolitions of illegal structures in Lagos State, former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has found himself under intense criticism for what some perceive as a hypocritical stance on the issue.
Obi had expressed concerns about the timing and potential adverse effects on the poor due to the demolitions, despite his own history of overseeing similar actions during his governorship.
Also read: Peter Obi responds to discovery of composting corpses found in Abia
In a statement, Obi acknowledged the violations cited by the government but argued that the current challenging economic conditions make this an inopportune time for such exercises.
“Even if there are some violations as the governments are claiming, this critical time is not auspicious for such an exercise knowing the hardship in the land and the consequences it will have on the poor who are struggling to make ends meet with their little resources,” the former presidential candidate of Labour Party, who came distant third in the last presidential election, wrote.
The comments, however, did not sit well with certain individuals, including an X user named Tosin Adeda, who took to the platform to launch scathing attacks against the former governor.
Adeda referred to Obi as “devious, manipulative, unintelligent, and overrated,” expressing gratitude that he did not win elections.
The user went on to label Obi as a “fraud, an ethnic bigot, and a very divisive spawn of the devil.”
The criticism did not stop there, as Adeda pointed out the perceived hypocrisy in Obi’s statements, highlighting his past involvement in supervising building demolitions during his tenure as governor.
The comments from Adeda reflect a growing sentiment among some members of the public who feel that Obi’s recent remarks lack consistency with his actions while in office.
Another user wrote: He tried to hide his bigotry by making a general statement but a leopard will change its spot before this man will repent of his ethnic jingoism.
As the discourse around the Lagos demolitions continues, the spotlight on political figures and their evolving stances serves as a reminder that public figures must carefully navigate their narratives to avoid charges of hypocrisy and maintain credibility in the eyes of the public.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
