Maryanne Moghalu, wife of former Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor Kingsley Moghalu, has declared she bears no apology for her past warnings to investors about Lagos.

In 2024, during a crackdown by Lagos State on illegal constructions and unapproved buildings that obstruct drainage and contribute to flooding, Moghalu made a notable statement. Her comments resurfaced recently when social media influencer Ogbeni Dipo cited them during a debate with governance expert and lawyer Joe Abah on issues of ethnic slurs.

Dipo referenced Moghalu’s remark from X, where she cautioned, “Invest in Lagos at your own peril,” highlighting her earlier critical stance towards investing in the state.

Reacting, Abah said, “Maryanne Moghalu will not stop me or anyone else from investing in Lagos or anywhere else. I didn’t need to respond to that even if I had seen it.”

It was immediately made clear to him that he also doesn’t need to be “frightened” by an offensive advertisement from Bokku Mart, as it has been removed along with an apology.

Reacting to her being mentioned in the debate, Moghalu’s wife told Abah to leave her out of his stories, emphasising that she has no apology to offer for warning investors about Lagos.

She wrote, “I have absolutely nothing to apologise for about my statement. It was personal, and I reserve the right to make it. When an elder like you chooses to play these games, you become what we call ‘Okenye n’agwo ofe’.

“If you invest with approval and it is destroyed at will, no matter where it is, I will say do not invest there. Period. Legally, if you ignore wrongdoing for a long time and have, in fact, benefited from it, you can not turn around and shout foul when it pleases you.

“These buildings were allowed, and taxes collected on them. Proper due process must be followed and adequate compensation paid where appropriate.

“Please leave me out of your stories. This was completely unnecessary. And for the record, when I made the statement, it was not directed at any tribe. Many properties of non-Igbos have also been demolished. Anyone who, for their own purpose, decides to make it about tribe, it is on them. Your type always wants to be seen as being on the fence and be proud of it. What caution have you given to the blatant anti-Igbo rhetoric that has been displayed here for the past several years? To quote Ned Nwoko’s wife, Biko, ‘Respect is beautiful things’.”

ASA