POLITICS
Maryanne Moghalu, wife of the 2019 Young Progressive Party (YPP) presidential candidate, has drawn criticism for urging investors to avoid investing in Lagos State.
This warning stems from the recent destruction of part of Landmark Beach, a popular beach resort, to construct the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
A portion of Landmark Beach, known as Mami Chula Beach Lifestyle, has been recently removed to make way for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Minister of works Senator Dave Umahi said that the demolition proceeded after he inspected several locations along the coastal road to determine the most cost-effective and practical route with minimal disruption.
In response to the demolition, Moghalu’s wife, Maryanne, issued a warning through a social media post, stating that investing in Lagos is risky.
She expressed that proper compensation for affected properties is required and should be aggressively pursued.
This post sparked a range of reactions, with some Nigerians criticizing her viewpoint. Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, was among those who disagreed with her statement.
Omokri questioned Moghalu on Twitter, wondering if his wife, Maryanne, was responsible for a disturbing tweet.
Omokri emphasized that Moghalu, as a former Central Bank Deputy Governor and presidential candidate, should be concerned because the demolition did not target a specific ethnic group and was carried out by the Federal Government, contrary to Maryanne’s claims that Lagos State was responsible.
Omokri questioned whether the person claiming to be the wife of a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and presidential candidate was genuine.
He pointed out that the alleged wife had asked people not to invest in Lagos, despite her reposting photos of them as a couple on her timeline. Omokri also noted that the demolition exercise for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway did not solely impact a specific ethnic group.
The majority of those affected by the demolitions in Lagos are Yoruba, including the Oniru family and their Mami Chula Beach resort.
The demolitions are not being carried out by the Lagos State Government but by the Federal Government under the leadership of Dave Umahi.
The Federal Government has a history of carrying out demolitions for infrastructure projects, such as the Third Mainland Bridge, which has benefited many people. Similarly, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State has also carried out demolitions to make way for road construction.