Sophia Michaels
Maryanne, the wife of the presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party in the 2019 general elections, Kingsley Moghalu, has faced significant criticism for advising investors to cease investing in Lagos State.
This follows the recent demolition of a section of Landmark Beach, the Mami Chula Beach Lifestyle in the state, to pave the way for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
According to the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, the demolition began after he inspected kilometres 13, 16 and 20 to ensure the most economical and viable way to access the coastal roads without much damage.
He stressed that the demolition would affect several structures and added that compensation would be provided.
However, reacting to the demolition, Moghalu’s wife on Wednesday said investing in Lagos was at one’s own peril.
“Invest in Lagos at your own peril.
“Best practices requires adequate and sufficient compensation for affected properties. This should be vigorously pursued,” she wrote on her X handle.
Meanwhile, some Nigerians have knocked Maryanne over the comment.
One of those who have faulted her comment is a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri.
Omokri, in a post addressed to Moghalu, asked if Maryanne was the one tweeting or if it was just an impostor.
The ex-presidential aide noted that as a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and presidential candidate, he should find the tweet troubling as the demolition did not affect an ethnic group and was done by the Federal Government, not Lagos State, that the wife claimed it to be.
Omokri wrote, “Is this really your spouse asking people not to invest in Lagos, or is this an impostor? She claims to be your wife, and you have reposted her on your timeline, in addition to photos of both of you as a couple. As a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and presidential candidate, don’t you find this message troubling? And even the current demolition exercise for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway does not only affect people of just one ethnic group.
“Most of those affected are actually Yoruba, including the Oniru family and their Mami Chula Beach resort, amongst many others. And beyond that, the demolition is not being carried out by the Lagos State Government.
“The Federal Government is implementing it under Dave Umahi. How can you blame Lagos for an action by the Federal Government? Do you know how many people lost properties when the Federal Government was building the Third Mainland Bridge? Are we not all enjoying that bridge now? And even Peter Obi, while he was Governor of Anambra, which is your state of origin, demolished the property of private businesses to make room for a road. For example, he demolished Premier Breweries in 2013 to pave the way for a road in Awka without compensation.”
He further urged Moghalu to let his wife revisit her statement, adding, “Would it have been fair for anyone to have said, ‘Invest in Anambra at your own peril’ because of that? Perhaps you may want to ask your wife to revisit this statement. Thanks, and may God bless you.”
Also, a user who tweeted with the handle @pontrol_777 wrote, “Take your investment to your land. Enough of emotionally blackmailing us. We don’t need illegal investors like you.”
Another user with the handle @ChukwudiOkpa said, “Thank God, invest in Anambra, Igbos are relocating our spare parts business and baby factories to the east.”
“At some point, your husband, Kingsley Moghalu wanted to become the President of Nigeria. This is not how you speak on matters currently heating the nation. This is completely sad. You’re not just another random Twitter user, you are Mr. Moghalu’s wife fgs (sic),” @aimthamachine opined.
Another user, Ken, who tweeted with the handle @kenonugbor, wrote, “This is why my uncle who’s in Europe has refused to buy any property in Lagos despite the persuasion. He’s buying all his properties in Delta.”
Dismissing the bigotry tag, Maryanne said that those calling her out for playing a tribal card were probably affected by the aftermath of the 2023 elections.
“This 2023 elections really did Nigeria bad. Everything is now about tribe when the government/President should succeed, wahala. Look before you leap with your investment. Wahala. Is it only Igbos that own property there? Mad people everywhere. On both sides,” she said.
Replying, Ade Yemi, who tweeted with the handle @maziyemmy, said, “Madam, rest…no need for this shalaye (explanation), your initial tweet had passed ur message and was well received by everyone. It’s too late for damage control now.”
Moghalu’s wife stressed that there was nothing to control in everything she said.
Later, she tried to make clarifications, saying, “I don’t know who they are. But there have been a lot of demolitions done so far. Many of those properties had titles. My point is do your due diligence before you invest.”
