The South East Patriots (SEP) has strongly condemned the Trade Fair Demolition in what it described as the “unwarranted and provocative” demolition of parts of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex by the Lagos State Government, calling the act a direct assault on the economic survival of millions of traders—mostly of South East origin.
In a statement signed by its Director General, Obunike C. Ohaegbu, SEP decried the demolition as an attack on Igbo entrepreneurship and a violation of federal ownership rights over the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, which it described as “the heartbeat of commerce in Nigeria.”
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Trade Fair Demolition Sparks Political Mobilisation
In response to the development, SEP urged all persons of South East origin residing in Lagos to immediately participate in the ongoing INEC voter registration exercise. According to the group, voter cards remain the “ultimate weapon of defence” for any people seeking to safeguard their political and economic interests.
“No people can protect their economic interests without political power,” the statement read. “Every eligible South Easterner in Lagos must act now to ensure their names are on the voter register. We must avoid the usual last-minute rush that brings chaos and insecurity before elections.”
The group warned that allowing “one man to control both Aso Rock and Alausa” would be politically dangerous and economically suicidal for millions of traders whose livelihoods depend on federal protection, equal opportunity, and open markets.
Reaffirming its faith in the Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi political alliance, SEP described the duo as the most strategic partnership to unlock the South East’s economic potential and promote national equity. It noted that Atiku’s understanding of Nigeria’s port economy, combined with Obi’s record of prudence and transparency, provides the leadership vision needed to open up Eastern ports, complete the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri rail line, and dredge the River Niger for industrial growth and cheaper cargo transport.
“Successive South-West–aligned governments have prioritised roads to Benin Republic and new Lagos ports, leaving the Eastern maritime corridor dangerously insecure and economically dormant,” SEP stated. “This imbalance must be corrected.”
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SEP also reaffirmed its loyalty to the Nike Lake Agreement of 2018, which it said remains the most strategic political and economic understanding between the North and the South East in Nigeria’s history. The group credited the late Prof. Ben Nwabueze, SAN, for his role in coordinating the pact and said it would continue to uphold its spirit and objectives.
“The South East is not a dot in any middle but an indispensable pillar of Nigeria’s federation—resilient in enterprise, unmatched in productivity, and unwavering in national unity,” Ohaegbu concluded.
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