The recent demolition of Crystal Place Mall in Ilorin, owned by former House of Representatives member Moshood Mustapha, has stirred controversy in Kwara State.
The incident has intensified the rift between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Mustapha, both of whom belong to the same political party.
The demolition, which reportedly took place on Sunday night under heavy police presence, has raised questions about the motivations behind the action.
Occupants of the complex claimed that they were served a three-hour vacation notice on Friday by the Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KW-GIS), citing violations of land use regulations.
Explaining the decision, the chairman of KW-GIS, Suleiman Abdulkareem, stated that the land was originally allocated for a commercial car park but was instead developed into a shopping mall.
“New findings show that the structure grossly violates the government’s land use approval issued to the owner on March 22, 2013,” Abdulkareem said.
He also noted that the structure posed obstacles to urban planning and road expansion, both key aspects of the state’s urban renewal program.
He added, “Illegal building creates obstacles for urban planning, road expansion, and environmental protection, which are key features of the urban renewal programme of the government.”
However, Mustapha, through his media aide, Dr. Opeyemi Aregbesola, dismissed the claims, stating that the development was politically motivated.
He insisted that the approval obtained from the State Bureau of Lands in 2013 was for commercial purposes, and the structure adhered to all required guidelines.
“The now-demolished Crystal Place was built based on the approved building plan and there was never an encroachment on government setbacks,” Mustapha said.
He further described the act as “pure political vendetta” and criticized the manner in which the government handled the situation. “Evicting a landowner without any consideration for his constitutional rights smacks of political vindictiveness,” he added.
Former Senate President and ex-governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki, also weighed in on the matter, describing the government’s actions as “pettiness” and accusing Governor AbdulRazaq of using the demolition to suppress opposition.
Saraki, who holds the title of Waziri of Ilorin, stated, “It is my view that one should always look at the big picture… 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 alleged that the governor’s actions were in response to his party’s declining popularity in the state. “It is his reaction to the growing unpopularity of everything that he represents within the state,” he stated, referring to the recent local government elections in which the governor’s party reportedly faced significant opposition.
Mustapha himself linked the demolition to his advice on the recent renovation of the Kwara Hotel project, claiming the move was a direct attempt to retaliate against him.
He also pointed to the governor’s revocation of a contract awarded to him for the N17.8 billion hotel renovation, which was later awarded to another company at a higher cost.
