Crystal mall demolition: Gov abdulrazaq targets Kwarans, opponents after LG election setback, says Saraki

Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has accused Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, of targeting Kwarans and political opponents following the ruling party’s poor performance in the recent local government elections.

Saraki claims the governor is using the demolition of Crystal Mall in Ilorin and the arrest of Peoples Democratic Party’s chieftain as a retaliatory measure, with the move designed to punish Kwarans who voted against the ruling party.

He said that some people would expect that he would be indifferent to the weekend demolition of the Crystal Place, a shopping mall on Sulu Gambari Road in Ilorin, ordered by the government of Kwara State.

This, he said, was because of the political relationship between him and the owner, Hon. Moshood Mustapha, who after serving as his commissioner, Special Adviser, and House of Representatives member under the platform of his party, the PDP, later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and had worked against his structure since 2018.

“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.” He therefore described that demolition as violent against people and economy of Kwara state.

He stated that his decision to speak out against this action that reflects the pettiness of the governor especially after losing election.

He noted that the timing of the demolition, just weeks after the election results, suggests a politically motivated action meant to deflect attention from the governor’s unpopularity.

“Why is Abdulrazaq just realizing a fault with the Crystal Mall structure after 64 months in office? This demolition is clearly a reaction to the local government election results, where the people overwhelmingly voted against him and his party,” Saraki stated.

Saraki also alleged that the demolition is part of a broader effort by Governor Abdulrazaq to intimidate political adversaries after the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) faced widespread rejection at the polls.

He also accused the governor of using similar tactics in the past, saying, “We should recall that he has ordered the arrest of some opposition politicians on frame-up charges.”

Tensions between the governor and Moshood Mustapha, an APC chieftain and the mall’s owner, have been brewing since earlier this year.

Mustapha has claimed that the political fallout is the primary reason the governor is targeting his property.

In May 2024, a statement from the governor’s Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, refuted claims that Mustapha’s building on Ahmadu Bello Way was slated for demolition.

At the time, the government clarified that the markings on the structure were part of standard procedures for ensuring adherence to building setback regulations.

Ajakaye had stated that while portions of the fence and adjoining kiosks at the complex violated these regulations, the main building was not under threat.

“The KW-GIS (Kwara Geographic Information Service) is identifying areas that encroach on government-designated setbacks. The focus is on ensuring all structures comply with setback regulations,” the statement read.

However, in a recent development, the Kwara Geographic Information Service (KW-GIS) justified the demolition of Crystal Mall, citing violations of the land use approval granted to Mustapha in 2013.

According to KW-GIS Chairman, Sulyman AbdulKareem, the approval was for a commercial car park, not for corner shops, which the building had become.

AbdulKareem added that the illegal construction obstructed urban planning and road expansion, key components of the state’s urban renewal program.

“It is trite to say that a land allotted for the purpose of a car park cannot and should not become corner shops overnight,” AbdulKareem stated.

He also noted that the area was originally designed as a green space where civil servants and members of the public could relax.

Saraki criticized these justifications as part of a broader scheme by the governor to wage war against political opponents.

He warned that the governor’s next target might be the burial site of his late father, Oloye (Dr.) Abubakar Olusola Saraki, and vowed not to be silenced by what he described as politically charged actions.

“Abdulrazaq believes that by destroying the properties of opponents, he can impose a culture of silence. This will not work,” Saraki added.

He further called on Kwarans, particularly traditional leaders, religious figures, and other stakeholders, to resist the governor’s tactics and continue to speak truth to power.

Saraki stressed the economic damage caused by the demolition, pointing out that over 100 youths and 21 shop owners had lost their jobs and investments due to the destruction of Crystal Mall.

Saraki, thereby, urged the people of Kwara to remain steadfast and resist any attempts to stifle dissent, insisting that the demolition is part of a larger campaign to undermine both economic growth and political freedom in the state.