As reported by Punch, a controversy has erupted in Ilorin, Kwara State, following the late-night demolition of the Crystal Shopping Complex on Sulu Gambari Road, owned by All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and former House of Representatives member, Moshood Mustapha. The demolition, which took place around 10 p.m. on Sunday under tight security, has sparked allegations of political vendetta and legal violations.

Moshood Mustapha, while condemning the demolition, described the act as politically motivated. He claimed to have obtained proper government approval for the construction of the shopping complex and argued that the state government's actions were unjustified.

However, the Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KW-GIS) responded with a statement signed by its chairman, Sulyman Andulkareem, asserting that the land had originally been allocated for a car park, not a shopping complex. According to KW-GIS, the development of corner shops on the land violated the approved land use and constituted a breach of the state's urban planning regulations.

Legal and Political Repercussions:

The incident has raised questions about the role of political influence in urban development and sparked public debates about governance and property rights in Kwara State. The security presence at the scene of the demolition further fuels speculation about the political undertones of the government's actions.

He said, “The Kwara GIS is removing the Crystal Corner shops because new findings show clearly that the owner grossly violated the government's Land Use approval issued to the owner on March 22, 2013.

“The approval was for a commercial 'car park only.'

The agency also added that “the illegal building conspicuously creates obstacles for urban planning, road expansion and environmental protection, key features of the urban renewal programme of the government”, noting that, “It is trite to say that a land allotted for a car park cannot and should not become corner shops which it became overnight.”

The agency said tenants occupying the shops had been asked to remove their goods, adding that the ongoing urban renewal programme was 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 structure above the larger interest of the public”, it added.

Nonetheless, the government's explanation notwithstanding, Mustapha, in a viral video posted from The Netherlands late on Sunday, said the demolition of his building was politically motivated as the government gave a three-hour eviction notice to the tenants on Saturday and demolished the building on Sunday night.

“Governor AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq demolished my property because of the little political disagreement I have with him. Though we are both members of the APC, I disagree with him because of his one-man show of running the state government and his low performance.

“As a result of this disagreement, he promised to destroy my property and all my investments in the state”, Mustapha alleged.