By Kolawole Ojebisj
Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has asked the Kwara State government to stop foisting what he called violence on the people and the economy of the state.
He said this following the demolition of Crystal Palace, a shopping mall in Ilorin, the state capital.
Saraki, who is the immediate past governor of the state, noted that he keep mute and remain indifferent to the development considering the political affiliation of the owner of the mall.
He, however, stressed that his love for the state and the fact that he has risen above narrow and parochial considerations when it comes assessing issues.
Crystal shopping mall belongs to Honourable Moshood Mustapha, an erstwhile loyalist of Saraki.
Mustapha served as commissioner, Special Adviser, and House of Representatives’ member under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he has been a staunch opposition member to the PDP and what it represents in Kwara since 2018.
Saraki, who is the Waziri of Ilorin, stressed the governor’s move reeks of pettiness and vendetta.
“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 alleged.
He also accused the governor of using the demolition exercise to “intimidate, suppress, and silence all Kwarans,” adding: “It is his reaction to the growing unpopularity of everything that he represents within the state.
“Why is Abdulrazaq just realising the fault or whatever he interprets to be wrong with the building of the Crystal Mall structure after 64 months that he has been in office?”
Saraki further claimed that the governor is ordering this demolition as his response in the aftermath of the recent “local government polls, where people in all the constituencies massively voted and rose against his party and its candidates.
“This is the beginning of a war against Kwara State for rejecting a governor who has failed to deliver good governance on all fronts,” Saraki said even as he alleged of a plan to order the arrest of some opposition politicians on frame-up charges.
Emphasising that the plot would not deter him from saying what is right, the former governor said nobody can erase the legacy of his father.
“Now, the news circulating across Ilorin is that the next target of Abdulrazaq’s demolition squad is the place where the remains of my late father, Oloye (Dr) Abubakar Olusola Saraki, of blessed memory is interred,” he stated.
“What this governor should know is that Kwara State does not belong to him. The state has existed long before he became governor and will continue to exist after he has ceased to be governor.
“After all, he has just about 31 months before he becomes a former governor. Abdulrazaq is the seventh democratically elected governor. None of those before him embarked on the demolition of properties to fight political opponents or score cheap political points. If I or the five other elected governors before him- the late Alhaji Adamu Attah, Chief C. O. Adebayo, Alhaji Shaba Lafiagi, the late Alhaji Mohammed Lawal, and Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed – had been demolishing the structures belonging to people for personal vendetta, nothing would have remained of Kwara State before he assumed office in 2019.
“Abdulrazaq should know we will not allow him to destroy the peace, tranquility, and fear of God that Ilorin, in particular, and Kwara State in general, stand for. His eight years as governor cannot reshape the history of our Emirate and the State that has been in existence for over 50 years.
“With this demolition of Crystal Mall, over one hundred youths who work there have lost their jobs and source of livelihood. Also, the 21 shop owners in that complex have lost their investment. What a loss to the state economy!
“At a time when people are facing hardship and there are no jobs, the focus of government should not be to destroy investment.
“The emphasis should be on how to grow the economy, help the private sector increase its investment in the state, generate employment, and make life better for ordinary people. These are key aspects of the basic functions of a government that has a purpose.
“I urge all leaders of thought in Ilorin, members of the Ulammahs, elders, and other key stakeholders not to keep quiet. What the present government in Kwara State is doing is waging war against the people. It is bent on impoverishing the people. We should not be afraid to speak truth to power. This action of Abdulrazaq should not intimidate any of us. We should speak out because the motive is faulty and the aim is evil.
“Let me also use this opportunity to call on all Kwarans to remain fearless, undaunted, and undeterred in standing against a government that has failed to fulfill its responsibilities to them.” part of the statement read.
Meanwhile, the chairman of KW-GIS, Suleiman Abdulkareem, explained that the land was originally allocated to Mustapha for a commercial car park.
“But he went on to erect a shopping mall and new findings show that the structure grossly violates the government’s land use approval issued to the owner on March 22, 2013.
“Illegal building creates obstacles for urban planning, road expansion and environmental protection which are key features of the urban renewal programme of the government”, he said.
He added that the land was originally designed as a green area where civil servants, pensioners, and members of the public relaxed at the new state secretariat complex.
The agency said tenants occupying the shops have been asked to remove their goods, adding that the ongoing urban renewal programme is in the best interest of the public.
Countering the claim by chairman of Kwara-GIS, Opeyemi Aregbesola, media aide to Mustapha said the structure did not violate the original approval.
Aregbesola made this known in statement released on Tuesday.
He said the approval obtained from the State Bureau of Lands in 2013 was for commercial purposes.
“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.
The development has further widened the rift between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Mustapha who are of same party.
The property was allegedly pulled down on Sunday night with the police providing security.
Occupiers of the complex claimed the the Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KW-GIS) served them a 3-hour vacation notice on Friday, citing violations.
This development has worsened the rift between the governor and Mustapha.
It is believed that what drove tge wedge to the seemingly rosy relationship between the duo was the renovation of the N17. 8billion Kwara Hotel
The governor revoked the contract earlier awarded to Mustapha at over N5 billion, citing lack of capacity and awarded it to Craneberge at the new amount.
It is being said in some quarters that Mustapha’s fame is growing in leaps and bounds among party stalwarts and the governor, who is already serving his second term, may have seen this as a subtle move to position himself as the next Kwara State governor.
Governor Abdulrazaq rode to power on the strength of a campaign pitch couched as Otoge meaning: Enough is Enough. A veiled barb at the Saraki dynasty’s hold on the Kwara politics.
The late Sola Saraki, Bukola Saraki’s father, was the most powerful godfather of Kwara politics in his lifetime.
His anointed candidate used to have their way in the state’s politics.
The former Senate President wanted to continue where his late father stopped but the victory over him Abdulrazaq in 2019 put paid to that ambition.
