Mr Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, has appealed to various governments involved in the demolition of structures to show compassion in the exercise.
In a statement via his verified Twitter handle on Tuesday, Obi advised that necessary corrective measures to planning or zoning violations by governments, needed not be punitive or unduly insensitive.
Obi noted that some of the ongoing demolitions might be excusable, they had nonetheless, left many victims, mostly ordinary people who erred innocently or were ill-informed or misguided in terrible conditions.
He said: “There should always be room for compassion and humane correction in taking any remedial action.
“We face a paradox: with a 70 million housing deficit and vast unmet housing needs nationwide, some resort to the self-help of building structures that serve as homes, businesses, SMEs offices, and stores.
“Invariably, some of these structures were either not approved or were built with the tacit collusion or approval of the local authorities.’
Obi, therefore, tasked the various governmental authorities on the need to enforce compliance with extant regulatory regimes, with consideration for human feelings and necessary compassion.
He noted that In Nigeria today, they lived in a time of extreme difficulties for citizens because of stagnated income, spiraling inflation, huge unemployment escalating socio-economic costs and high costs of living.
According to him, Nigerian citizens should therefore, not be subjected to the additional stress of unexpected hardship.
The former Anambra governor said various concerned governments should consider paying compensation to those who had lost property and livelihood in these unfortunate demolitions.
Obi added that this was to ameliorate their sufferings and such compensation should fall under the rubric of eminent domain that applies to property and assets acquired or demolished in the public interest.
He reminded the government that it could not be over emphasised that their primary duty and responsibility was to care for and protect their citizens. (NAN)