Owner of a four storey building that collapsed under construction, at Zulu Gambari road in Ilorin, last Friday, Hon Moshood Mustapha has described the incident as an act of God.
When the building which was an extension of Crystal House International Hotel caved in around 11am about 200 workers were said to be on site.
Though no life was reportedly lost in the incident, a Honda Accord car belonging to one of the Engineers was said to have been badly damaged.
Reacting to the incident in a statement signed by him on Saturday, Mustapaha said the incident which was ‘an act of God’ occurred during a scheduled controlled demolition of one part of the extension of Crystal House Hotel.
According to him, there was a slight incident that led to a partial collapse beyond the area of the targeted demolition.
“I thank Almighty Allah that there was no life lost and neither were any of our over 200 employees or people in the surrounding area hurt.
“Casualty was averted as a result of our team of Engineers who cordoned off the necessary areas before commencing the controlled demolition,” he said.
Mustapha, added that the building had gone through all level of scrutiny and integrity test with development control, COREN, the state Town Planning Authority and other building agencies in Kwara.
“We have also adhered strictly to the professional advice given to our team of Engineers with over 25 years of service and former exco member of COREN, Kwara branch,” he stated adding that like his other property in Kwara State such as Crystal House, Crystal Place Shopping Plaza and Crystal estates, standard materials were deployed.
He further stated that two of the world’s most reputable companies, Julius Berger and LG are handling critical aspects of the collapsed project.
The former member of House of Representatives however appreciated his family, friends and well-wishers who reached out to him on hearing the news.
“I assure everyone that we will continue to work with relevant authorities to maintain high standard in all our projects as we strive to provide more employments to hundreds of Kwarans,” he submitted.
Meanwhile, Nigerians have continued to condemn online medium Sahara Reporters for linking the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to the incident, describing such report as mischief.
Some Nigerians and various groups who took to the social media to express their displeasure at the report alleged that Sahara Reporters was being sponsored by ‘political enemies’ of the Senate President.
According to Kwara Legacy Frontier, “What does Saraki’s name have to do with this incident. It’s obvious that you were sponsored to smear Saraki.
“It was a reconstruction job that went bad, why is Sahara Reporters Jubilating unnecessarily?”
Another respondent, Baba Idris on his twitter handle express his worry adding that he could not figure out what Sahara Reporters was celebrating as news in its attempt to
It is clear, the goal of Sahara Reporters is to cook anything to defame Bukola Saraki,” said,
Owolabi Adebayo.
Also, Yusuf Alabere said, “Your pull down syndrome against Saraki is obvious and there is nothing you and your pay masters can do to bring him down.
“It’s normal for a building to collapse if the structure/construction of such building is bad, but why mentioning Saraki’s name?”
“Yele Sowore, it’s glaring you were hired to attack Bukola Saraki but very soon you and your sponsors will meet your waterloo. Go and pay your N4billion,” another respondent, Abdulyekeen Bashir, wrote on his twitter handle.
Sahara Reporters had on Friday in its headline said; ‘Building owned by Saraki’s aide collapses, injuring 3 in Ilorin’.
SaharaReporters went further by saying the building which was an extension of Crystal House International Hotel was being hurriedly built by at least 100 temporary workers hired by Moshood Mustapha who serves as Senate President Bukola Sarakias his Senior Special Assitant on Legislative Matters.
It also said in its report that three of the workers were injured while debris fell upon a Christian fellowship taking place in two containers nearby.
