Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has condemned the demolition of the Crystal Place Mall in Ilorin, Kwara State, by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s government.
The demolition, which occurred last weekend, has sparked controversy and heightened tensions between the governor and former House of Representatives member Moshood Mustapha, the mall’s owner.
According to the Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KW-GIS), the mall was demolished due to violations of land use approvals. The land was initially designated for a commercial car park, but Mustapha allegedly built a shopping mall without proper authorization.
However, Mustapha’s media aide, Dr. Opeyemi Aregbesola, refuted these claims, stating that the building was constructed according to approved plans and did not encroach on government setbacks.
Saraki, a former governor of Kwara State, criticized the demolition as “pettiness” and an act of “intimidation” against the people of Kwara State. He questioned why the governor had waited 64 months after taking office to address the alleged building violations....Read Full Article [Click Here>]
“It is violence against the people of Kwara State and the economy of the state,” Saraki said. “My decision to speak out is irrespective of who is involved.”
The demolition has raised concerns about the governor’s use of power to silence political opponents. Mustapha, who switched allegiance from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2018, has been a vocal critic of Abdulrazaq’s administration.
The mall’s tenants have been given a three-day eviction notice, and the KW-GIS has emphasized that the urban renewal initiative is designed to benefit the public. However, Mustapha claims that the demolition is retaliation for his opposition to the government’s contract award for the renovation of the Kwara Hotel.
