Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has expressed deep concern over the recent vandalism of the Second Niger Bridge, urging for a robust security response.
Obi’s statement follows a viral video shared by social media influencer Lord Zeus, who exposed the vandalism. In the video circulated on Monday, Lord Zeus narrated how some rail fittings on the bridge were uprooted by suspected vandals. He also advised drivers to be cautious of the uprooted railings, especially at night.
Reacting to the video in a post on Tuesday, Obi stated, “I like to thank immensely the young man, Lord Zeus, driven by patriotism and courage to raise alarm on the vandalization of the Second Niger Bridge.”
He praised Zeus for highlighting the issue, saying, “The viral video of this good Nigerian copiously points out the senseless criminality and vandalism of our collective assets which is capable of causing grievous harm to members of the public if left unchecked.”
Obi continued, “I share his concerns and that of many patriots over the constant destruction of public property, including vandalizing of railway tracks, cutting up of high voltage cables, stealing of aluminium railings on bridges, and so on.”
He stressed the widespread issue of vandalism across various public assets and urged the government and security agencies to thoroughly investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Now that this critical issue has, again, been exposed, I urge the government and security agencies to do a follow-up by investigating deeply and bringing to book, the perpetrators of such crimes,” Obi said.
He also emphasized the need for strict disciplinary measures against those who vandalize public assets, stating, “We must now put in place strict disciplinary measures for those who vandalise public assets.”
Additionally, Obi advocated for the installation of reliable surveillance systems to monitor vital public infrastructure, highlighting the availability of advanced electronic surveillance technologies. He extended his appeal to various stakeholders, urging traditional rulers, community leaders, market associations, and others to mobilize a collective response.
“I urge our traditional rulers, community leaders, market associations, and other stakeholders to mobilize a collective response. We must work together to educate and sensitize our people on the harmful effects of such criminality, which not only undermines our economic development but also puts lives at risk,” Obi wrote.