Row as Kwara govt demolishes APC chieftain’s shopping complex
By Dele Moses, Ilorin
The demolition of a multi-million naira shopping complex in Ilorin has sparked a row between the Kwara State Government and the owner of the complex, Mashood Mustapha.
The complex which is known as Crystal Place and which is located on Zulu Gambari road in the town was on Saturday night pulled down by the government which had demolished many make-shift structures along roads in Ilorin in the execution of its urban renewal programme for the town.
The demolition of the building is seen in some quarters as a vendetta by the state governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, against Mustapha as the two who are both chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state have been at loggerheads in recent times.
Mustapha had accused the governor of deliberately taking away from him the contract for the renovation of the state’s hotel, Kwara Hotel, after the contract had been awarded to him.
He claimed that the governor decided so because he refused to cooperate with the governor to allegedly inflate the contract sum from the original N3 billion it was awarded to N17 billion.
The state government refuted the allegation and asked Mustapha to come and carry out the contract at the N3 billion he claimed initially approved but Mustapha who seemed to be suspecting traps did not respond to the offer.
The government, as it demolished Crystal Place, denied that the demolition was a vendetta claiming that it was carried out because the piece of land was meant for a car park, not for commercial purposes.
The Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KW-GIS) which carried out the demolition said it is removing the Crystal corner shops because new findings show clearly that they grossly violate the government’s land use approval issued to the owner on March 22, 2013.
The approval was for a commercial “car park only,” KW-GIS said in a statement on Sunday.
The KWGIS, in a statement by its chairman, Sulyman Abdulkareem, alleged that the complex was an illegal building.
It said the complex conspicuously creates obstacles for urban planning, road expansion and environmental protection which are key features of the urban renewal programme of the government.
“It is trite to say that a land allotted for the purpose of a car park cannot and should not become corner shops which it became overnight,” it said.
“Importantly, the land was originally designed as a green area (a garden) where civil servants, pensioners, and members of the public relaxed at the new state secretariat complex,” the statement reads.
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.
“The programme is neutral to affiliations as many defaulting properties had earlier been removed for similar reasons, and it will be unfair to give preferential treatment to any structures above the larger interest of the public,” it stated.
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But Mustapha, in a statement by his media aide, Opeyemi Aregbesola, said he acquired the land for commercial purpose and that he was allotted it after fulfilling all the requirements for the acquisition while also claiming that the complex was built with the approval of government.
The statement reads: “Since the news about the 3-hour eviction notice given to the tenants of Hon. Mashood Mustapha’s business complex, Crystal Place, by the Kwara State Government went viral on Saturday, we have been inundated with calls and messages from family, friends, supporters and conscientious Kwarans. In light of this, it is expedient that we set the records straight and unveil the lies of the Kwara State government on the intended purpose of the land on which the now-demolished Crystal Place was built.
“The Chairman of Crystal Group, Hon. Mashood Mustapha (MM), being a passionate Kwara-born serial entrepreneur, thought it wise to invest in his state and create employment for the youth while also contributing to the economic development of his dear state. In 2013, he acquired a plot of land along Sulu Gambari Road for commercial purposes from the Kwara State Bureau of Lands. He was allotted the plot of land after fulfilling all the requirements for the acquisition of the land.
“Hon. MM proceeded to obtain building approval from the Town Planning Development Authority. The now-demolished Crystal Place was built based on the approved Building plan and there was never an encroachment on government setbacks.
“On Monday 13th May 2024, agents from the Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KW-GIS) marked some parts of the building for demolition without any official notice. Despite the presentation of the approved building plan, the fence and adjoining buildings were demolished on Saturday 18th May 2024. We thought that was all and tenants who own businesses in the business complex went about their affairs smoothly unknown to us that the Governor had more plans up his sleeves.
“Sequel to the 3-hour eviction notice which was issued to the tenants of the business complex on Saturday, 5th October 2024, on Sunday the Chairman of KW-GIS issued a statement stating that “land allocated for car parks can’t be corner shops”. This statement is not only misleading but an effort to whip up sentiment against the owner of the property, Hon. MM, ahead of the demolition.
“At about 9 pm on Sunday, the Kwara State Government mobilized security operatives to barricade the roads leading to Crystal Place for a smooth demolition. If such energy and resources could be deployed against a business owner, one would wonder why insecurity is still ravaging the state.
“There is no need to sugar-coat it, this is pure political vendetta. Compulsory acquisition of properties by 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.
“Hon. MM has contributed immensely to the development of Kwara State both while in office as an Honourable Member of the House of Representatives representing the good people of Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency, and even after the expiration of his tenure. His contributions as an illustrious son of Ilorin Emirate earned him the title of Wakilin Ngeri. Such a personality does not deserve to be treated with disdain by the government but the Governor knows best.
“We have taken the destruction as an act of God. The current situation will not deter Hon. MM from contributing his quota to the development of his fatherland.”