Encomiums as quintessential Emir Sulu Gambari clocks 80

Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State, is strategically located as a gateway between Northern and Southern Nigeria, and harbours more ethnic groups than any other emirate in Nigeria. The stool of Emir of Ilorin is one of the most revered and prominent in Nigeria. There are only three monarchs holding the title of Shehu […]

Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State, is strategically located as a gateway between Northern and Southern Nigeria, and harbours more ethnic groups than any other emirate in Nigeria. The stool of Emir of Ilorin is one of the most revered and prominent in Nigeria. There are only three monarchs holding the title of Shehu in the entire history of Northern Nigeria, Shehu Usman Danfodio of Sokoto, Shehu El-Kanemi of Borno and Shehu Alimi Dan Janta of Ilorin, where Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari is holding court as the 11th Emir.

His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, a direct descendant of the revered scholar, Sheikh Alimi, is the 11th Emir of Ilorin and permanent Chairman Kwara State Traditional Council.

Born on April 22, 1940, a direct descendant of Sheikh Alimi, Emir Sulu-Gambari was turbaned as the Ciroman Ilorin in 1984 by his late father, Alhaji Zulkarnaini Muhammadu Gambari, who was the 9th Emir of Ilorin. He finally ascended the throne of his fore bearers as the 11th Emir of Ilorin on August 28, 1995 and was coronated on November 11, 1995.

Emir Sulu Gambari, whom many of his subjects and admirers described as a quintessential personality, has contributed immensely to the development of his domain, Ilorin.

Since Sulu Gambari became 11th Emir of Ilorin, tertiary institutions have continued to increase with the establishment of Al-Hikmah University, Kwara State University Malete and Muyideen College of Education among other notable private and government owned establishments such as International Aviation College and the Advanced Diagnostic Centre.

He was said to have spearheaded the renovation of the Ilorin Central Mosque constructed by his late father in 1979 to become a world class edifice, next to that of Prophet Muhammad mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia. And it was brought to reality with the full support of the then Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

Until recently, when he was redeployed to the University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State, the Emir had held sway as the Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, for 14 years (2001-2015).

Malam Abdulazeez Arowona, Spokesman of the Emir of Ilorin and National Secretary of Shehu Alimi Foundation for Peace and Development, said Emir Sulu-Gambari has not only presided over the affairs of his immediate community – Ilorin, and brought monumental development to it in the years past, he was also a delegate to the last constitutional conference where he contributed immensely to the national discuss.

As a fallout of the confab, he said the Emir had advised President Muhammadu Buhari to commence a process that would lead to the implementation of the 2014 national conference as a way to restructure Nigeria.

He said the emir also founded the Shehu Alimi Foundation for Peace and Development presided over by Sheikh Dr. AbdulKadir Oba-Solagberu with an 11-man Committee.

While felicitating with the Emir on his 80th birthday, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described the respected royal father as the symbol of unity for the people of Ilorin Emirate whose welfare the emir considers paramount.

He said “The last 80 years of His Eminence’s life have been quite eventful just as the over two decades of his reign as the Emir of Ilorin have recorded tremendous achievements for the sons and daughters of Ilorin, and the ancient city itself. His reign has been peaceful and progressive with a lot of dynamism brought to the royal stool. We expected no less from a man who is today the most certificated and cosmopolitan Emir of Ilorin in history. His Highness was a distinguished lawyer and a fine judicial officer who rose through the ranks to become one of the most senior justices of the Nigerian Court of Appeal from where he retired to sit on the throne of his forefathers.

“Despite overseeing a rainbow city with varied interests and backgrounds, his royal highness continues to use his stool to build a more united Ilorin Emirate while also helping to strengthen relationships among different peoples and traditional authorities of our great state. As a symbol of our unity, the Emir’s love for our people is visibly evergreen.”

Also, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem, in a glowing tribute described the emir as an accomplished jurist, forthright leader, peace-builder and a father-figure not only to the people of Ilorin Emirate but to the generality of Kwarans and Nigerians of divergent extractions.

He described the emir as a resourceful judicial officer, frontline administrator and highly rated traditional ruler, who was always sought-after by communities and institutions across and beyond Nigeria for sagely interventions at critical moments. He said Sulu Gambari as a lawyer and Justice of the Court of Appeal, has been a remarkable blessing to the nation, considering his positive impact and interventions in the all-round development of the Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State in general.