Former West Ham United and Fenerbahçe star condemns Lagos State’s building demolitions

The West Ham United loanee has invested in business since quitting active football in 2019

Former Super Eagles star Emmanuel Emenike has criticised the Lagos State government’s recent bulldozing spree, which has left numerous residents stranded in the state, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Lagos State government commenced demolishing illegal structures constructed along canals and waterways in specific areas, including the Gedegede – Mobil road – Megamound Estate – Ikota drainage channels last week.

Citing the importance of preventing future erosion and flooding, the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources justified the necessity of the demolition.

The operation, which saw the demolition of several multi-million-naira properties, was conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.

In response, Emenike took to his Instagram story to share a poignant image of the wreckage, expressing deep sympathy for the losses incurred by the affected individuals.

He asserted that the impacted parties had initially received authorization from the Lagos State Government, making the subsequent destruction all the more distressing.

Using strong language, Emenike condemned the government’s actions, labeling it a manifestation of pure wickedness.

Expressing concern for his fellow Igbo community members, he advised them to consider repatriating their investments to the safety of their eastern roots, specifically highlighting Abia, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi as secure havens.

In his post, he wrote, “The sadness is too much after getting approval from the same Lagos state government; this is pure wickedness.

“Igbos are in trouble; bring your investment back home, my people we have Abia State, Imo State, Anambra State, Enugu State, and Ebonyi State.”

Emenike’s career

Emenike was nurtured at Asaba-based football outfit Delta Force before he moved to South Africa to play for MP Black Aces and Cape Town.

The energetic forward moved to Turkey in 2019 and was on the books of Karabükspor and later Fenerbahçe. He spent two years on loan at Spartak Moscow, where he notched 21 goals in 42 league games.

He returned to Fenerbahçe in 2013 to lead the club to Süper Lig and Turkish Super Cup triumphs the following year.

Emenike later wore the jerseys of United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain, English Premier League side West Ham United, and Greek club Olympiacos before calling time on his career.

On the international scene, Emenike made his Super Eagles debut in 2011, and in four years, the power-playing forward scored nine goals in 37 appearances.

Four of those goals came at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, where he was named the tournament’s joint-top goalscorer as Nigeria lifted the trophy for the third time in history.