On December 25, 2023, the people of Ilorin Emirate in Kwara state converged in the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, to chat a common front that would enhance the growth and development of their city. UMAR BAYO ABDULWAHAB reports.
Coming together under the umbrella of Ilorin Emirate Decendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), the apex body of all socio-cultural organisation of Ilorin Emirate indigenes, the conference was the 58th in its series.
The annual gathering held every December 25 had over the years remained a platform for sons and daughters of the emirate to come together and take decisions and as well make their positions known on issues that affect them.
From governance to politics, health, education, infrastructures, to mention but few, the annual gathering had become a major platform for attracting the best brains in businesses, politics and professions to their father land.
This year’s conference just like the previous ones delveled into various issues like the call on federal government to rename the University of Ilorin after the founder of the Alimi Dynasty, Sheikh Alimi ibn Solihu ibn Janta.
The people also requested the state government to direct all heads of government offices, captain of industries and chairmen of the five local government areas in Ilorin Emirate to henceforth display the portrait of the Emir of Ilorin, alongside that of the president and governor in their offices.
UNILORIN to be renamed
On the clamour for renaming University of Ilorin after Sheikh Alimi, IEDPU president said, “An equally sublime request is the renaming of University of Ilorin after Sheikh Alimi to be called Sheikh Alimi University, Ilorin in honour of Sheikh Alimi ibn Solihu ibn Janta, the founder of the Alimi Dynasty just like was done for his contemporaries like Uthman Danfodiyo University Sokoto, named after Sheikh Uthman Danfodiyo, the founder of Sokoto caliphate and Modibo Adama University Yola, named after Adama ibn Ardo Hassana, the founder of Adamawa Emirate.”
Similarly, the conference praised the foresight of the government on the proposed Kwara State University of Education and appealed that the institution be located within Ilorin.
The conference also commended Governor AbdulRazaq for his laudable projects, particularly the recent inauguration of Education Trust Fund, describing it as a step in the right direction.
“As a community, we recognise the giant strides recorded by the current administration in the state, particularly in the areas of provision of qualified personnel and infrastructures as well as renovation of some existing secondary schools into befitting standards,” the IEDPU president said.
Lamentations over UITH
IEDPU also used the occasion to raise alarm over what it called total breakedown of health services at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH).
It lamented that in recent times, its leadership had been inaudated with testimonies of high-level of infrastructural decay leading to countless avoidable loss of lives of innocent patients.
“It is worrisome to the people of Kwara state, the deplorable condition of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) which is presently witnessing a total breakdown in health services delivery, leading to countless avoidable loss of lives of innocent patients.
Panacea to insecurity
Just like many other states of the federation, Ilorin is not totally insulated from security challenges which the conference also deliberated upon and proffered solutions.
To ensure security of lives and property in the state, Otta-Uthman called for increased budgetary allocation to agriculture to create more job opportunities for the people.
“The union wishes to reiterate the need for government at all levels to pay attention to the menace of high level unemployment which has been on the increase thereby breeding criminalities in the society. We are therefore advocating for enabling environments for farmers to survive, while urging the government to put mechanism in place to ensure that her supports meant for succor to farmers get to the real farmers and the needies. This would ensure food sufficiency for Kwarans and draw the attention of the youth away from thuggery, cybercrime, cultism and other forms of social vices,” Otta-Uthman stated.
Ilorin Smart City underway
In his address, Governor AbdulRazaq announced that preliminary works would begin next year on the 18,000-hectare proposed lIlorin Smart City Satellite Town that the administration has designed for the expansion of the capital city.
The city is an offshoot of the Ilorin City Master Plan, the second of such blueprint for urban planning since the state was created in 1967.
According to the governor, the capital city deserves constant infrastructural upgrade, maintenance and expansion, following its positions in the state and Central Nigeria.
“Next year, we plan to commence preliminary works on the Ilorin Smart City Satellite Town which should cover an area of 18,000 hectares .This is a beautiful adaptation from the Ilorin City Masterplan that I had previously discussed in this gathering two years ago,” he said.
“I therefore invite you to support this historic milestone in the socioeconomic and physical evolution of Ilorin and Kwara state as a whole. It will usher in immeasurable growth, huge investments in real estate and the opportunities that come with building a new city,” AbdulRazaq hinted.
The governor congratulated the Emir, IEDPU, sons and daughters of Ilorin on another impressive outing while praying Allah to grant the emirate more successes in the coming years.
“Our gathering here serves to chat for this great emirate a new agenda of development, unity, brotherhood and general wellbeing of our people. I am excited that His Royal Highness and indeed the IEDPU have remained reliable partners for inclusive growth, continuous improvement in the living standards of the people and steady evolution of Ilorin into a mega city,” he stated.
“Your Royal Highness, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, not only does Ilorin constantly needs infrastructural upgrade, maintenance and expansion because of its positions in our state and central Nigeria, the reality is that the capital city is at the risk of becoming a slum if nothing is done to give it a befitting expansion that improves its standing and makes it a 21st century city on a sustainable basis.”
The governor appreciated the people for their unflinching support in the last four years, especially during the last general election.
Emir preaches peace, unity
The Emir of Ilorin and chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari congratulated IEDPU and all sons and daughters of the emirate for the successful programme, appealing to them to continue to love one another and work for sustainable peace, unity and progress of the emirate.
He lauded the governor for his remarkable achievements and support for the emirate, including the ongoing construction of skills acquisition centre of the union.
Need for Ilorin Elders Forum
Chairman of the occasion, Justice Haroon (OFR), acknowledged the tireless efforts of the IEDPU in fostering unity and progress of the emirate over the years. He advocated the establishment of Ilorin Emirate Elders’ Forum, comprising highly respected individuals that would assist the Emir and his chiefs as well as IEDPU in promoting peace, development and unity in the community.
Chairperson of the occasion and matron IEDPU Western Zone, Haija Fatimoh Shuaibu, who commended the Emir and the union on the various achievements recorded so far, also appreciated the governor for his gender inclusion policies and programmes.
The Grand Khadi, Kwara state, Justice Abdulateef Kamaldeen, in his lecture admonished all sons and daughters of the Emirate to continue to exist in peace and unity, cautioning clerics against teachings or acts that can undermine peace and unity of the state.
He described Sheikh Alimi as a great reformer and hailed the Emir, his descendant for his uncommon love and concern for sustainable peace and cohesion of the city.
Election of new officials
The conference also marked the end of the tenure of the Otta-Uthma led executives and emergence of new executives.
High point of the two-day event was the election of a retired Assistant Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Alhaji Abdulmumini AbdulMalik as the national president of IEDPU.
Others elected alongside AbdulMalik were Alhaji AbdulRauf Issa, national vice president, Mall Abubakar Imam, national secretary and Dr Jimoh Ajadi as first assistant national secretary.
Also elected were Alhaji Nurudeen Alao, second assistant national secretary, Barr Taofeeq Oniyo and Alh Usman Salman who became national treasurer as well as Mal Suleiman Shuaib as the national financial secretary and others. The new officials have been officially inaugurated after being sworn in by Dr Hamed Hamed and Barr AbdulRauf Ajao.
While presenting his stewardship, the outgone IEDPU president listed his major achievements to include the construction of a skills acquisition centre and the union’s Central Mosque located within the premises of the union’s national headquarters at Gerin Alimi area, Ilorin
Roll-call
The socio-cultural gathering was attended by top government functionaries and prominent individuals from within and outside the state, including Grand Kadi Kwara State Shari’a Court of Appeal, Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen Al-Adabiy; Chief of Staff to the governor, Prince Abdulkadir Mahe; Imam Imole of Ilorin, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulhammed; Mufty Ilorin Sheikh Suleiman Faruq Onikijipa; former Grand Khadi and chairman of the occasion Justice Idris Haroon (rtd); chairperson and matron for IEDPU Western Zone, Hajia Fatimah Toyin Shuaibu; chairman, AA RANO Nig Ltd and principal launcher Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano who was represented by Alhaji Muhammed Bello and the IEDPU president Alhaji Aliyu Otta Uthman.
