Tyranny: Abdulrahman Ranks High Among Govs Using Demolition Against Opponents
By Sulaiman Onimago
In a recent report by Punch Newspaper, the Governor of Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq made the list of Governors using demolition of properties against opponents in the State.
Abba Yusuf of Kano, Obaseki of Edo, and others as well made the list, with Abdulrahman of Kwara. Recall that in 2020, the Kwara Governor demolished a property belonging to the Saraki family, and recent demolished a property belonging to a former House of Reps Member, Moshood Mustapha.
There is also an ongoing demolition exercise along Egbejila road, where National Pilot is sited, a platform that has largely been anti-government and accused of being partisan by the ruling party. While National Pilot is not the only one marked for demolition, people suspect it might have been the main target, with others being collateral and justification.
Saraki and Abdulrahman have exchanged words over the recent demolition in the State, with the former Senate President cautioning the Governor against demolition of properties, stating neither him, his predecessors and immediate successor, Abdulfatah Ahmed demolished people's properties in Ilorin.
The Governor who spoke via his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye alleged Saraki of demolishing the family of Late Governor Lawal, and a property belonging to Late General Muhammed Adisa, a claim which has been proven to be false, by Press Officer to Saraki on Local Matters, Abdul Abdul. A background check also proves Dr. Bukola Saraki statement to be right, no demolition of opponent's properties occured under his tenure, and despite the tensed relationship between the Saraki and Lawal family, demolition was not weaponised.
The Kwara Governor maintained that they are restoring and upgrading Ilorin's master plan, and restoring sanity to Ilorin metropolis, but the public has fainted the action, especially as the demolition exercise was executed after three hours notice to shop owners within the complex. Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) has called for calm and discussion around the issue, while Ilorin Emirate Youth Development Association (IEYDA) has charged the state government to be responsible and engage property owners before demolishing properties.
Also, a socio cultural group, under the tag "Ilorin in Diaspora" has faulted both the State Government under Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and IEDPU, while the group quizzes the Governor over the demolition, it knocked IEDPU for not intervening earlier, as the Governor and Hon. Moshood are traditional title holders of the Emirate, imploring the Union to rise and live to its expectations.
Hon. Moshood Mustapha, the recent victim of the wave of demolition by Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has described to Governor as "going mad again," and said the action is not unconnected to the Kwara Hotel contract which was initially agreed to be awarded for Crystal group for N3bn, but was awarded to Craneburg for N17bn. Moshood went on to expose the Governor, with claims and counter claims over breach of agreement.
Sulaiman Onimago writes from Ilorin, kwara State Capital
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