Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the former Senate President, has strongly condemned the Kwara State governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, for allegedly using demolition as a tool to intimidate and silence the people of the state. Specifically, Saraki criticized the recent demolition of Crystal Place, a shopping mall in Ilorin, the state capital, which he claims was destroyed due to his own political ties with the owner, Hon. Moshood Mustapha.
Saraki accused Abdulrazaq of attempting to erase the legacies of his late father, Dr. Olusola Saraki, and noted that the governor’s actions smack of violence against the people and the state’s economic development. He questioned why Abdulrazaq waited 64 months into his tenure to address the alleged issues with the mall’s structure.
The former Kwara State governor also claimed that the demolition was a response to the recent local government polls, where the people voted against Abdulrazaq’s party, APC. Saraki urged the people of Kwara State to remain fearless and speak out against the government’s actions, which he believes are aimed at impoverishing the people.
Abdulrazaq, who has been governor since 2019, has a history of political rivalry with Saraki. Before becoming governor, Abdulrazaq contested unsuccessfully for the governorship in 2003, 2007, and 2011, losing to Saraki in 2003 and 2007.
It’s essential to note that these allegations are part of an ongoing political dispute and should be viewed within the context of Nigeria’s complex political landscape.
