By Ayomide Otitoju
Princess Olatorera Majekodunmi-Oniru has condemned what she described as “brutal acts of thuggery and kleptocracy” in Lagos State, following a weekend marked by violence against residents and opposition figures.
In the early hours of Saturday, September 6, armed men reportedly stormed Oworonshoki in a midnight raid, forcing families from their homes as demolition crews moved in. Witnesses recounted scenes of panic and despair as residents were left homeless and traumatized.
Later that day, Lagos governorship candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV) was allegedly prevented from holding a scheduled political event at a venue his campaign had secured. The venue was reportedly seized by rival forces, with banners bearing the image of President Bola Tinubu displayed across its perimeter.
Reacting to the incidents, Princess Oniru issued a strongly worded statement:
“What happened today is wrong and condemnable in every way. Democracy cannot thrive where citizens are brutalized, opposition voices are silenced, and laws of humanity are disrespected. Nigerian citizens must stand tall against kleptocrats, thugs, and warmongers.”
She further warned that Nigeria is at a critical turning point, stressing the urgent need for accountability and reform.
“We face a choice between regression and unprecedented progress, between emptiness and patriotic actions, between propaganda and evidential results, between entrenched corruption and genuine freedom, between maleducation and powerful intelligence, and between mass suffering and a future of peace, unity, and prosperity.”
The incidents have fueled growing concerns over political intolerance and authoritarian tendencies in Nigeria as the country approaches a pivotal election season.
