Not only is it another example of what has become a regular government feature, the manner the exercise was carried out in the night and in disregard of pending litigation portrays the government as being above the law and contemptuous of the authority of court. This is unfortunate. Sadly, such an attitude has become a character of government, not just in Ogun State but in other states too as recently experienced in Lagos and Kano states, as well as the Federal Capital territory, Abuja.
Notably, demolition of “illegal” structures by the government has become a recurring decimal in different parts of our country, with the governments contending that the exercises were meant to rid the cities and urban areas of “illegal” structures. Cogent as this reason may sound, the overzealousness to curb illegality has led to the enthronement of illegality of the highest order.
The government is not above the law. Even if it is conceded that the Plaza was “illegal,” the Ogun State government should not have taken the law into its own hands and carried out the demolition. Two wrongs cannot make a right. Resorting to self-help or force in the settlement of disputes is a recipe for mayhem and anarchy.
The Nigeria National League will conduct three compulsory pre-competition medical tests for players and officials of the 40 clubs set to feature in the 2023/2024 league season, which kicks off on October 28.