The Ilorin Emirate Concerned Group (IECG) has advised the organisers of the annual durbar celebration committee to look beyond the state government or politicians for financial support towards a successful outing.

The group, at a press briefing in Ilorin on Monday, described the festival as a community event, saying a strong attachment to the state government would only corrupt the event.

It argued that politicians are poised to politicise the annual event and, as such, may lose its values as a display of cultural heritage.

Consequently, it urged the organising committee to shun financial assistance from the government and politicians.

According to the group’s secretary, Shuaib Nuhu, “the issue of government interventions or seeking financial support for organising the annual Dubar programme should be jettisoned as Ilorin Emirate is blessed with people of enough means with no political affiliations and has the interest of the Emirate towards its development.”

It then urged the committee to lure non-politicians to key into the event, saying: “To this end, it should be of note that our destiny should be carried in our hands for prosperity’s sake and to maintain the integrity of the Emirate.”

IECG advised the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) to create conducive ground for all indigenes to make reasonable contributions and to “create awareness to contribute meaningfully.”

Describing Ilorin Durbar as a sacred celebration of the Emirate, not to be held hostage by manipulation or financial coercion, Nuhu told the IEDPU to resist any compromise, “rather, it should stand firm of our heritage and not surrender it on the altar of political expediency.”