As Ilorin indigenes at home and in the diaspora marked and celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari’s coronation on Tuesday, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and a notable socio-cultural group in the emirate agreed that the 30 years of his reign have been defined by positive transformative developments.
While the governor said the state capital has evolved to be one of Nigeria’s most peaceful and beautiful communities, the socio-cultural group, the Ilorin Emirate for Unity and Development Initiative (IEUDI), described the reign of the Emir as a blessing to the emirate.
A press statement countersigned by the group’s President, Alh. Moshood Lekan Salau, and the Secretary, AbdulSalam Abdullahi, said the Emir’s era is characterised by “classical development.”
IEUDI noted that the past three decades under Sulu-Gambari’s leadership have been marked by peace, love, progress, and development.
Reacting to the monarch’s 30th coronation anniversary, the group noted that the eleventh Emir’s journey has profoundly touched the lives of the community.
“Over 30 years, Ilorin Emirate has witnessed tremendous growth in human and infrastructural development, transforming the community beyond recognition.
“Under the leadership of our revered Father, Maimartaba Seriki Ilorin, three sons of the emirate have become governors of the state since the return of democracy in 1999.
“This era has also produced the third-highest-ranking citizen of Nigeria, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, former Senate President, Chief Justice of Nigeria, two Chiefs of Staff to former Presidents, Chief of Defence Headquarters, several ministers, ambassadors, directors-general and numerous federal and state appointees.
“The emirate has seen unprecedented industrial growth; numerous companies, factories, and businesses have transformed the economic landscape of Ilorin, boosting its development,” they listed.
They added that the Emir’s era also witnessed the establishment of numerous schools and higher institutions, hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities.
The statement further said there has been a surge in professional fields, with Ilorin producing more academic professors, medical doctors, legal luminaries, accountants, and other professionals than any other community in Kwara State and parts of Nigeria.
“On the religious front, the Ilorin Emirate community has fostered peaceful coexistence with other faiths, particularly Christianity. The Christian community has demonstrated love and unity with Muslims, thanks to the Emir’s unwavering commitment to interfaith harmony,” it said.
They hinted that the Ilorin Emirate Jumu’ah Central Mosque stands distinguished in Kwara State and Nigeria, recalling: “Recently, the emirate—renowned for its Islamic scholarship in North Central and Southwest Nigeria—achieved a milestone: Maolana Sheikh El-Imam Salman Oba Sholagberu was appointed National Chief Imam of Nigeria’s Central Mosque, Abuja. IEUDI hails this as a testament to the emirate’s legacy.
“IEUDI congratulates Alh. Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari on his remarkable achievements, ensuring stable, committed leadership and three decades of peace in Ilorin Emirate,” it said.
Praying for the Emir’s continued success, sound health, peace of mind, and long life, the group reaffirmed support for his vision of unity and progress, celebrating a legacy of transformation that continues to uplift the Ilorin Emirate.
Meanwhile, the governor commended the calmness and wisdom of His Royal Highness in his leadership of the Traditional Council and acknowledged his support for good governance, infrastructural renewal in Ilorin, and the socio-cultural transformation of the emirate under his reign.
“His Royal Highness, a retired senior judge, is reputable for his love for law and order, underscoring his commitment to democracy, rule of law, and development,” according to a statement by the governor.
