JUST IN: APC Governor demolishes multi-million naira edifice belonging to another APC Chieftain
The demolition of Crystal Place Mall in Ilorin the Kwara State capital, owned by former House of Representatives member Moshood Mustapha, has sparked controversy in the State, intensifying tensions between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Mustapha, despite both being members of the same political party.
The mall was reportedly demolished on Sunday night, with police present to maintain order.
Occupants of the complex claimed they received a three-hour eviction notice from the Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KW-GIS) on Friday, citing alleged violations.
Suleiman Abdulkareem, chairman of KW-GIS, clarified that the land was initially allocated to Mustapha for a commercial car park.
He stated, “He subsequently constructed a shopping mall, and new findings indicate that this structure significantly violates the government’s land use approval granted on March 22, 2013.”
Abdulkareem emphasised that illegal constructions hinder urban planning, road expansion, and environmental protection, which are vital components of the government’s urban renewal initiative. He added that the site was originally intended as a green space for civil servants, pensioners, and the public to enjoy near the new state secretariat complex.
The agency informed tenants to remove their belongings, asserting that the ongoing urban renewal program serves the public interest.
However, Mustapha, through his media aide Dr. Opeyemi Aregbesola, disputed the allegations, asserting that the approval obtained from the State Bureau of Lands in 2013 was indeed for commercial use.
“The now-demolished Crystal Place was built based on the approved building plan and there was never an encroachment on government setbacks.
“There is no need to sugar-coat it, this is pure political vendetta. Compulsory acquisition of properties by the government is not new; it can be done for overriding public interest but there are processes that should be followed.
“Evicting a landowner without any consideration for his constitutional rights smacks of political vindictiveness”, he stated.
Tensions between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and former House of Representatives member Moshood Mustapha have escalated following a dispute over the renovation of the N17.8 billion Kwara Hotel.
The governor recently revoked a contract originally awarded to Mustapha for over N5 billion, citing concerns over Mustapha’s capacity to complete the project. The contract has since been awarded to Craneberge at a revised amount.
Mustapha alleged that the demolition of his mall was a retaliatory action by the government in response to his advice regarding the new contract price.
Former Senate President and former Kwara governor Bukola Saraki criticized the governor’s actions, calling them petty. Saraki, who holds the title of Waziri of Ilorin, noted that while some might expect him to remain indifferent to the mall’s demolition due to his political ties with Mustapha, this was not the case.
He pointed out that Mustapha had a long history of political service under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and working against the PDP structure since 2018.
Saraki alleged that: “However, it is not my style to take positions on issues from the narrow, parochial perspective. It is my view that one should always look at the big picture, a broad perspective of any issue in reacting to it. It is violence against the people of Kwara State and the economy of the state.
“My decision to speak out against this action that reflects the pettiness of the governor and his government, which is anti-people and against the economic development of the state is irrespective of who is involved.”
Saraki further accused the governor of using the demolition as a tool to “intimidate, suppress, and silence all Kwarans,” asserting that it reflects AbdulRazaq’s response to his declining popularity in the state.
He questioned, “Why is AbdulRazaq only now discovering issues with the Crystal Mall structure after 64 months in office?”
Additionally, Saraki alleged that the governor’s decision to demolish the mall is a reaction to the recent local government elections, during which voters across various constituencies overwhelmingly rejected his party and its candidates.
