Demolition Of Crystal Complex, An Economic Setback
By Isiaka Mogaji
The time was 9:45 pm, Sunday, 7 October, 2024, when I came across a trending video on social media showing a clip of the demolition of a multimillion Naira shopping complex, known as 'Crytal Place' belonging to former member of the House of Representatives and Wakilin of Ilorin, Hon. Moshood Mustapha, located along the Sulu Gambari Road, Ilorin.
The barbaric demolition was carried out in a bizarre manner at night by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq administration in the state. Many wonder why the demolition was carried out at night and even during the weekend. The reason was to guard against public outcry and hide under a finger.
A fact check at the demolition centre that same night, despite the heavy rains, revealed that all roads leading to the complex were barricaded by heavy security personnel who were fully armed.
This destructive madness and the manner it was hurriedly executed by the state government is an indication of how the governor is desperate in his vindictive prowess.
Earlier, two government officers from the Bureau of Lands came to the complex around 9am on Saturday, 6 October, 2024 to deliver the message of the Governor, were seeing telling the occupants of the shopping complex to vacate the place within 3 hours, explaining that the state government was set to occupy the place. An action devoid of common logics and extant laws.
The message from the government officials created tension, fear, and confusion in the minds of the affected tenants, as three (3) hours were not enough to make meaningful arrangements. One of the affected tenants, a young man who just packed in about 3 months ago, spent over 20 million Naira to put his modern restaurant in place with 15 working staff.
It must be stressed that the demolition is not only a political vendetta but a calculated attempt to set the kwara backwards, as it has led to loss of investments and employment opportunities.
Hundreds of young and old people working in the complex have become jobless, by this action of governor AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman. Many of them are graduates with families to take care of.
Taking a cursory look at the recent local government elections in the state, opinions were not divided that the Governor was not happy with the outcome of the September 21, Local Government elections in the state, where the ruling party, APC, and it is candidates were outrightly rejected at the polls by the people of the state.
Further to that, can one also link the actions of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to the growing popularity of the new Wakilin of Ilorin Emirate, Hon. Moshood Mustapha. Does his popularity give the governor concern to warrant his move to distract MM ? This political chauvinism against Hon. MM is dead on arrival as it can not work. Whatever the reason for this destructive tendency against a fellow traditional title holder from the same town of Ilorin Emirate is unjustifiable. As it can not justify the economic losses that the Kwara state government has inflicted on innocent citizens.
Going by the trends in which the state government is carrying out its demolition of property and shops is, to say the least, lacks a human face. Many owners of lockup shops, stores, and kiosks across Ilorin metropolis have been rendered jobless, leading to increased insecurity in the city.
It is expedient to reiterate here that even in the face of impunity, humanity stil exists. Hence, the need to commend the equipment hiring providers in Ilorin who refused to release their equipment to the state government for its devilish demolition of Hon. MM's investment property, hinging their action on humanity.
Isiaka Mogaji is a former member, KWHA.
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