Lere Olayinka Tells Igbo Traders: Una Come Lagos, Chinese Too Come Lagos

Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has told Igbo traders at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex exactly what he thinks of their protest against Chinese businesses. The traders had staged a protest over the Chinese doing direct retail sales at the market, selling to consumers at cheaper prices and squeezing Nigerian retailers out of business.

Olayinka did not sympathise. He went straight for the jugular on X. He wrote: "Una come Lagos come trade. Chinese people too come Lagos come trade. Una dey protest say make Chinese people leave market for una. For una Papa's land abi?" Then he added for good measure: "Una head no correct Ori yin o pe!"

Now, I have turned this matter over in my mind since yesterday. The traders have a legitimate grievance about pricing and unfair competition, but the man has a point buried inside that insult. If your own father's land could not keep you in Aba or Onitsha, on what moral authority do you now claim Lagos belongs to you and not to the Chinese? The market does not know tribe, it only knows who can sell cheaper. Be honest, is Olayinka wrong or is he just saying what many people are thinking but will not type?