By Salman Gambari
As the sun rises over Ilorin this Monday morning, June 30th, 2025, a crucial battle for justice unfolds in our court(s)—one that transcends the personal grievances between Hon. Mashood Mustapha (MM) and Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. What we witness today is not merely a legal proceeding, but a defining moment that will determine whether authentic community development can survive under an administration that seems allergic to progress it did not initiate. The courtroom drama represents a larger struggle between those who build communities and those who tear them down, between leaders who invest in their people’s future and those who prioritize political vendettas over economic growth.
The tragic irony of this persecution cannot be overstated. Here stands Hon. MM, a man whose Crystal House Complex once buzzed with the activities of hundreds of Kwarans earning their daily bread, now facing criminal charges for daring to speak out against its unjust demolition. Meanwhile, the very man orchestrating this legal harassment continues to maintain no significant business investments within the state he governs. While MM’s demolished complex provided livelihoods for countless families, Governor Abdulrazaq’s economic footprint in Kwara remains virtually non-existent—a telling testament to where his true loyalties lie. How can a leader who has contributed nothing to our state’s economic foundation justify destroying what others have painstakingly built?
This systematic campaign against MM reveals the dangerous precedent being set by the current administration. When a government chooses to criminalize those who dare question its destructive policies, it sends a chilling message to every entrepreneur, every investor, and every citizen who believes in holding leadership accountable. The revocation of the Kwara Hotel contract, the demolition of Crystal House, and now these criminal charges form a disturbing pattern of vindictive governance that prioritizes personal ego over public welfare. What message does this send to potential investors who might consider establishing businesses in our state? Who would dare to build when the government’s response to criticism is demolition followed by prosecution?
Today’s court session represents more than Hon. MM’s personal battle—it is a referendum on the soul of Kwara State. Every Kwaran who has ever dreamed of building something meaningful, every entrepreneur who has risked their resources to create opportunities for others, and every citizen who believes in the right to speak truth to power has a stake in this outcome. The attendance of well-meaning Kwarans, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), and democracy lovers at today’s proceedings is not just about showing solidarity with MM—it is about defending the very principles that make democratic governance possible.
As we stand at this crossroads, we must ask ourselves what kind of legacy we want for Kwara State. Do we want to be remembered as the generation that allowed the silencing of voices simply because they challenged power? Or will we be the ones who stood up when it mattered most, who refused to let the politics of destruction triumph over the spirit of development? History will judge us by our actions today, and future generations will either thank us for our courage or question our silence. The choice is ours, and the time is now.
