Some leaders of Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State have petitioned the Presidency, National Assembly, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, and security agencies, claiming that no part of Moro LGA belongs to the Ilorin Emirate led by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

The members under Moro Concerned Elders Movement spoke about the petition during a media briefing in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Wednesday.

The President of the group, Ayinde Jimoh, in an address read by its Director of Publicity, Theophilus Oyebiyi, said its argument that Moro LGA did not belong to Ilorin Emirate was confirmed by the judgment of a competent court of jurisdiction delivered by Justice J.A. Ibiwoye on October 22, 1997.

Jimoh demanded immediate recognition and grading of some traditional rulers in Moro LGA.

According to him, the traditional ruler include Okutala Lanwa, Bielesin, Ejidongari, Olooru Bode-Saadu, Budo-Are, Malete, Elemere, Oloworu, and Babaloke.

He also demanded the immediate return of the pre-1984 third class grading of both Ohoro of Shao and Oba of Jebba, and the immediate upgrading of the duo to the first class status.

Jimoh on behalf of the Moro group further demanded immediate stoppage of the five per cent deduction from the Moro LGA federal allocation allegedly remitted to the Ilorin Emirate.
Source: http://punchng.com/moro-elders-petition-fg-say-our-lg-not-under-ilorin-emirate/

The police in Kwara have arrested 11 suspects over cult-related killings and clashes in the state, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN gathered that the suspects were arrested by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID).

A police source told NAN in Ilorin on Monday that those arrested were suspected members of the Eiye and Aiye confraternities.

According to the source, the suspects were arrested at their hide out in Kulende area of Ilorin following a marching order for their arrest by the Police Commissioner, Ado Lawan.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the arrest of the 11 suspects.

He said the police would not relent until the state was rid of cultism and other crimes.

NAN recalls that the Ilorin Emirate Descendant Union (IEDPU) had revealed that nearly 30 people had been killed by cultists within the last six months.

The National President of the union, Alhaji Abdulhammed Adi, who spoke at a stakeholders meeting in Ilorin, expressed concern on the rise in cult-related killings in the state.
Source: https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2017/08/21/11-arrested-kwara-cult-related-killings/

Kwara state which is known as the ‘State of Harmony’ was created by the military government on May 27, 1967 – Principal groups residing in Kwara state are the Yorubas, Nupe, Barubas and the Fulanis Known as the ‘State of Harmony’, Kwara state, it is the gateway between the South and North, the state was created in 1967 by the military junta of General Yakubu Gowon and 49 years after, 16 local councils have been carved out from it.

At its creation, the state was made up of the former Ilorin and Kabba provinces of the then Northern Region, and, was initially named the West Central state but later changed to “Kwara”, a local name for the River Niger. It is bordered by Oyo and Osun states from the South West, and Kogi and Niger states from the North Central, while Ilorin is its capital. 49 years after its creation, the state is reputed for its religious tolerance and multi-ethnicity composition.

The principal groups residing in Kwara state are the Yoruba, Nupe, Baruba and Fulani and they are original indigenes of the 16 Local Government Areas in the state; namely, Asa, Baruten, Edu, Ekiti, Ifelodun, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Ilorin South, Irepodun, Isin, Kaiama, Moro, Offa, Oke-Ero, Oyun and Pategi. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Muslims saying their prayers AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI The state, which is endowed with diverse culture and tribes, is a home to some northerners and southerners who are striving in their various trades.

A resident of the state, Mr Awosanmi Olaitan, who claimed to have resided in Kwara for almost 40years,said that it is peaceful, adding that he had adopted it as his state of origin because of some of his childhood friends are indigenes of the state. Religion The state is divided politically into three senatorial districts, Central, South and North. Yorubas are found in the Southern part of the state, Baruba, Nupe, Northern part; Fulani and Yoruba are indigenes of the Kwara Central. Each of the three senatorial districts is recognised for its peculiarities.

For instance, Kwara South senatorial district is grouped along three ethnic tribes, Ekiti, Ibolo and Igbomina in which the indigenes of this district are Yorubas and practice Islam, Christianity and Traditional religions.

According to an Ilorin-based Journalist, Osasona Kehinde, who hails from Oke-Ero local government area of the state, the district is a typical Yoruba setting and its people co-exist harmoniously. He added that despite the advent of Islam and Christianity, the people of Kwara south have not totally jettisoned their traditional belief.

It also gathered that as part of culture and tradition, every town and village in the district still observes the annual yam festival and celebrates masquerade festival till date. In the Central, Ilorin, which is the capital of the state is the political and religious headquarters of the district. The district is under the authority of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari and it is named the Ilorin Emirate. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Yoruba men As reputed, Ilorin as a town is dominated by people of diverse backgrounds but with a common front.

Since it was founded centuries ago, the town is known and synonymous with Islam and to this end, Islam is the only faith practice by the bonafide indigenes of the town. However, its residents, who are Christians are enjoying freedom of worship. Culture Kwara is noted for Durba, Ere Olomoba, Weaving, among others.

The Kwara North indigines of the state are Barubas and Nupes and their ways of life are resemblance to the Ilorin people but a Nupe man is accustomed with Fish and Rice, while a Baruba is at home with Pounded yam. Development After 49 years of existence, the state could be categorised as developed in terms of infrastructural development as it plays host to the federal owned University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Federal Training Centre, Ilorin, State Colleges of Education, Ilorin and Oro, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery, Ilorin, Kwara State University, Al-Hikma University and Land Mark University (a private University) located in Omu Aran.

Also, NTA and notable media out-stations are sited in the state alongside an International Airport. Kwara non-indigenes are of the view that the state is harmonious and a beckon of hope to settlers. Mr Emmmanuel Ogor, an indigene of Abia state, who plies his trade in the state, said he is happy and contented to be a resident of the state, explaining that since 1999 he relocated to the state, his family and business has not for once been attacked.

“I relocated to Ilorin in 1999 from the East and since then, I don’t have any regret living and transacting business in the town. I will say, I am happy to be a resident,” he revealed.

Also, Aliyu Haruna, a trader and an indigene of Sokoto state, who said he was born in the state some 45 years ago, described it as the most peaceful in the country, and, however, commended the people of the state for their hospitality and religious tolerance. “I have no reason to regret living in Kwara and considering the number of years I have spent here, I think I am now part of them.” Meanwhile, the present governor of the state is Abdulfatah Ahmed, who is currently running his second-term in the office. The Senate president, Bukola Saraki is an indigene of Kwara state.

SOURCE: Naij

If Ilorin, the Kwara State capital located in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, is widely known as a city of scholars and centre of Islamic erudition, the appellation did not just come about.

It was a reputation that was built over the years through painstaking efforts of the founding fathers of Ilorin Emirate to propagate the religion of Islam.

Sheikh Alimi internationally acknowledged as the founder of Ilorin Emirate toiled hard to lay the foundation of Islam in the ancient Ilorin community. Though, scholars have argued that Islam had been in Ilorin before the arrival of Sheikh Alimi whose real name was Al-Salih, with the presence of Solagberu who reportedly founded Oke Sunna Muslim community, his stay in Ilorin was said to have totally changed the course of Ilorin history and helped in the establishment of an Islamic city.

Therefore, the foundation of the emirate was built on a solid Islamic background where Quran, the Muslim holy book, takes pre-eminence over every other mundane affair. One of the symbols and albeit the most important symbols of Ilorin’s islamicity vis-a-viz the contributions of Sheikh Alimi is the Sheikh Alimi mosque in Ilorin located at Ori Oke Jinji inside Ago Market in the heart of Ilorin, the state capital.

It is the first and the oldest mosque not only in Ilorin but the entire Kwara State which was built by Sheikh Alimi in 1810 in the course of propagating Islam. In Islam, the place of mosque cannot be over-emphasised as a place of worship where the Muslims fulfil one of their obligations to their creator which is the observance of the five daily prayers. This mosque is strategic in all respects to complement the drive to spread Islam in the community.

From 1810 till date, the mosque is still at its original location now surrounded by the popular ago market as findings by Sunday Trust revealed. Our correspondent who visited the mosque reports that the ancient mosque built in mould occupies a pride of place in the historical development of Ilorin Emirate.

Though it is a miniature place of worship, its significance cannot be quantified in the evolution of Ilorin emirate. Besides, it was the first mosque where the Juma’at (Friday) congregational prayers started before the construction of a larger mosque at Idi Ape and the present Ilorin Central mosque located within the Emir’s palace which was remodelled and rebuilt in 2012.

It is also regarded as the mother of all mosques in Ilorin and the state in general which gave birth to numerous mosques sustaining the legacies left behind by Sheikh Alimi.

Unlike the present day mosques built and constructed with modern architectural design, golden domes and marbles and other modern facilities, Sheikh Alimi mosque has largely retained its structure. The mosque floor is filled with sand while the structure was cast in mould before it was changed to concrete by the 10th Emir of Ilorin, Oba Aliyu Abdulkadir who reigned between 1992 and 1994. The sand it was gathered would be brought from various communities and villages in Ilorin emirate and its environs on the order of the late Emir. It has two ablution points with molten containers and a section for women.

Just within the mosque, there is a small room which is of great significance to Ilorin emirate. The room is where new Emirs of Ilorin usually migrate to offer special prayers after their appointment. According to historical accounts, no Emir had been turbaned in Ilorin without first visiting the mosque as part of the turbaning rites performed for new Emirs.

According to Mogaji Nda of Ilorin, one of the traditional chiefs in the emirate, Alhaji Salihu Woru Sulaiman, the new Emir would pray for God’s guidance as he is about to start his reign.
He said, “That mosque is very significant in the sense that if a new Emir is about to be turbaned, he would leave Mogaji Nda’s house here on the second day to that mosque to observe some prayers. What he is doing there is just to pray to God to guide him in ruling the community. Without going to that mosque, he would not be turbaned.

“Therefore, you cannot become a full Emir without going to that mosque. So after observing prayer in that mosque, he would migrate to another mosque in the frontage of the Emir’s palace (popularly known as Mosalasi Ojude Oba) where he would be finally turbaned”.

However, some people have frowned at the lack of maintenance of the mosque as the surrounding is left unkempt and dirty as observed by our correspondent. While people believe the structure should be retained in its ancient form, the vicinity of the mosque is an eyesore. It is surrounded with a narrow, dirty water channel which usually overflows to the mosque during heavy rains.

A resident who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity said, “This place is supposed to be a tourist attraction. I am aware people come around to visit the mosque from overseas and offer prayers but it is sad that the surrounding is not properly maintained”.

Our correspondent also reports that people in the community usually converge on the mosque to offer special prayers and seek God’s intervention on matters of concerns to the community. It was gathered that some prominent clerics and Imams gathered at the mosque to offer special prayers on the eve of the just concluded general elections to ensure a successful election.

It would be recalled that some PDP leaders in the state led by the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman on March 24 visited the mosque to offer prayer. Speaking then, the Minister said, “Where we are now is the core of Ilorin community, this mosque belongs to Sheikh Alimi, that was the first mosque in Ilorin community, the first mosque in the entire Kwara State, we have come for the blessings of the Mallams, of the Sheikh, we are invoking the name of this mosque in calling on Allah to guide Kwara people right. This mosque was established in 1810. It is only people like us that could tell the story, the indigenes of Ilorin, the bonafide Ilorin people and we are saying we should go back to the root”.

Behind the political stunt, observers believe the mosque should not only be preserved but maintained. A prominent Ilorin indigene who knows much about the mosque but pleads anonymity said, “If not for the hypocrisy of our leaders, a special fund should have been set aside for the maintenance of this heritage. The surrounding of this mosque does not portray the significance of it to Ilorin Emirate history. It is not also habitable during rainy season as it is usually taken over by flood”.

Mogaji Nda however said the present Emir, Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu Gambari is maintaining the historical mosque.
He said, “I believe the present Emir is maintaining it. It is not unkempt, it is tidy, very neat. You know the mosque is used occasionally and it is not good to change the structure. It is not good they deface it. It should be kept like that to retain its original look. It is there, it is very neat. We want to maintain the ancient structure and we would not support the idea of it being demolished”.

Commenting on the state of the mosque, Director, Centre for Ilorin Studies, University of Ilorin, Professor Zakariyau Oseni urged authorities in the emirate to take up the maintenance of the mosque.

He said, “The oldest mosque in Ilorin emirate as far as we know in the old market Ago area is very important because whatever one is doing in life, one should remember where he started. So it has great significance that cannot be forgotten because of the position of Ilorin in Islam in Nigeria especially in North-Central and South-West, even south-south and south-east and the role Ilorin has played in the spread of Islam in South-West (Yoruba land); South-South especially in Edo, Delta and South East and the fact that many of the scholars in such places one way or the other had Ilorin Alfas (scholars) at a stage in life or some of them had come to study here.

“So, so many people would have been attracted to that place. It has historical significance that Ilorin had gone very far and many people had played significant role in Ilorin whether of Ilorin or those who migrated and most people migrated at one stage or the other.

“Remember Ilorin contains so many different ethnic groups and they all live together in harmony. So being the very first known mosque, it has some historical significance and therefore it should be preserved and this centre set up by the University of Ilorin is interested in such monument of historical significance in this city and in this state”.

“It should be preserved by Ilorin emirate authorities…We should make sure the environment is attractive. People would want to come there and they would not like it that the place is not properly kept. People would not like that, it is seen as a tourist attraction but people would not be coming if they discover that the environment is not clean enough. So we need to do whatever we can to make sure that the place is neat and people around the area should be made to know that the place is very important and people would come from far and near to visit the place and do some nafila, observe some optional prayers.

“Ilorin West Local Government Area should be up and doing, should try to know the importance of such a place to this community, we are very proud of such a place, it may be small but whatever it is, that is where we started and only God knows how many people who have prayed there and how many prayers and supplications said there that have been answered for the community and for the country. All these should be borne in mind but we would network and send a message to the appropriate authorities”.

Source: Daily Trust

Alhaji Ibrahim Suluqornain Gambari.

Emir Palace,
Ilorin, Kwara State,
1st, January, 2015.

Salam Alaikun Ya Amirul-mumini,

May peace and blessing of Allah be upon your Eminence, the entire linage of sheik Alimi, the throne of the sheik Alimi, the Sheik Alimi, his disciples and the entire people of Ilorin emirate: dead and living. I would not be a grateful indigene of this noble emirate if I fail to appreciate Allah’s endowment to the entire people of Ilorin emirate. The greatest among these endowments is having you as the Emir of Ilorin emirate at this unruly time.

Your Eminence, when we say you are the greatest of all Emirs Ilorin emirate has ever produced, we are not trying to patronise you and we have no reason to do so. We would have ranked you next to sheik Alimi but he was never an Emir. This singular opportunity avails you a chance of being more than inches ahead of others. In terms of knowledge of law, administration and interrelation. These were the knowledge that fetch this throne you inherited from your forefather: sheik Alimi. Indeed, you are the second coming of sheik Alimi but this time as Emir.

Our father, if my analogy is right sir, I will equally be right that you are not merely a political leader, you are equally the religious leader. When acting as religious leader sir, you are not a ceremonial leader because sheik Alimi was never chosen as a ceremonial leader. In a clearer sense, Imams including chief Imam of Ilorin emirate, Islamic scholars of whatsoever cadre, cabal and any other person holding religious role in Ilorin emirate need your veto to function because they act as your delegates. Your late father tried harder to reduce numbers of Jumat and Hidd gathering. This was never for any selfishness but to foster unity and screen unorthodox preaching.

Daddy, Ilorin emirate is only known for its religious activism. This position was bought by your late forefather (sheik Alimi) and his disciples with their sweats and bloods. No wonder Ilorin emirate homes divine peace, knowledge of Islam and Allah’s favour. These divine endowments draw tourists to Ilorin emirate. These hard earned glory of Ilorin emirate is depreciating and emaciating in every eyes twinkling.

My amiable father, the single reason for this is not far fetched. This reason is not unconnected with the ways and manner in which some Islamic scholars have decided to allow themselves to be used by politicians as political ingredients instead of standing firmly as political correctors. We are not unaware of the monetary price paid to some Islamic scholars to preach in tones of campaign for politicians.

This is an unbecoming of upright scholars of this great emirate. Muslims are not restricted from choosing politics as a career but depreciating Islamic preaching in this unorthodox way is so pathetic that consequences of such an immoral act is not limited to unashamed scholars but to the entire Ilorites whose pride is drawn from Ilorin emirate’s. It is high time your Eminence reassumed your role and take charge by checking the excesses of these rogues. Dr Bukola Saraki and governor Fatai Ahmed were sold to us by these Islamic scholars in the last general election. They cited several authorities in character assassination and gender segregation to nail Belgore and Gbemisola Saraki. At long last, their bosses had their ways.

Their way in emaciating the legacy of Ilorin emirate, their way in selling our lands for their own benefit, their way in disintegrating IEDPU (Ilorin emirate descendant progressive union), their way in wiping off the resources belonging not only to this generation but including the incoming generation.

Their way in elongating the servitude of Ilorin and it’s environs. Our thought was that the four years period of hostility will afford these scholars ample opportunity to dot their ‘i’ and cross their ‘t’ but to our surprise, these unashamed scholars have renewed their contract to re-handed us over to these enemies of Allah.

My concerned daddy, going through these same hardship for another four years may be too hard for us to bear. This singular reason spurs me to make a clarion call to you sir. There is a need for you to check your representatives and sanction them to thread with care and have the interest of Allah and the masses at heart while they are carrying out their shameful activism. Excuse of not knowing the evil their bosses are capable of inflicting on masses will not avail them on the day of judgement as twelve years of Bukola and four years of Fatai on the saddle of the affairs of Kwara state is more than enough to make a lists of the hardships they have inflicted on us and those hardships they are capable of inflicting on us, most especially at the time they have nothing left to sell.

In conclusion, daddy, I shall be using this opportunity to apologise for any inappropriate language I might have used in conveying my messages. May your time be healthy and prosperous.
Yours Son,

Sambo Muritala esq.
Sambo Muritala &Co.
Activist Chambers.

By Yushau A. Shuaib
Kwara State has witnessed unique brand of politics; the politics of political godfathers, godsons and even goddaughters. There is also the politics of anointing where particular individuals or groups determine and decide who should be what and where either at the state or at the federal level.

The most prominent political figure in the state was the Late Baba Oloye Olusola Saraki who, during his lifetime was credited to singlehandedly anointed and influenced the elections of Governor Adamu Attah of National Party of Nigeria (NPN) 1979-1983, Cornelius Adebayo of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) 1983, Shaaba Lafiagi of Social Democratic Party (SDP) 1992-1993, Mohammed Lawal of All Peoples Party (APP) 1999 to 2003 and finally his own son, Bukola Saraki of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who served longest from 2003 to 2011.

Bukola Saraki has also been credited with influencing the nomination and eventual election of the current governor Abdulfatah Ahmed against the candidature of his sister, Senator Gbemisola Saraki.
The current administration in the state could therefore, be said to be an offshoot of the previous administration or a government of continuity of Bukola’s tenure.

While Governor Abdulfatah has sustained the essential kernel of the erstwhile administration, he nevertheless introduced new innovations for the benefit of the citizenry. It is therefore not surprising when debate on his style of leadership and activities are made on the basis of loyalty and performance.

During an Easter Break, this writer attended the annual meeting of Third-Estate Group in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State. At the meeting, contemporary issues bordering on socio-cultural and economic development including youth empowerment and education were discussed.

A day after the annual event, I honoured an invitation for one-on-one chat with Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed at the Government House, Ilorin. It was indeed an opportunity to interact as well as ask questions about economic development in the state.

Rather than dwell on politics, our interaction focused purely on the administration’s developmental efforts in the state. The Governor disclosed that the state was investing heavily in road infrastructure to allow the smooth movement of goods and people especially as the state was moving from the age of subsistence farming to commercial agriculture where access smooth and clear access to market is a sine qua non.

It came out that in the health sector the government has upgraded some of the health institutions including the Ilorin General Hospital with modern facilities . An international diagnostic centre has also been commissioned that would serve Kwara, Nigeria and West-Africa sub-region because of substantial level of partnership with the current operators.

While not neglecting formal education, the state focuses more on the human capital development, especially incorporating the non-formal educational sector into a system whereby it will be properly monitored for growth and development. According to Governor Fatai, the state set up an international vocational centre in Ajase for skills acquisition that would be beneficial to students, unemployed youths and graduates. Graduates of the centre will be employable in marine, civil engineering, electrical and oil and gas industries.

Some of the applicants are also compartmentalised into cooperatives under an entrepreneurship development scheme which creates a debenture where fund are made available by government, for onward lending to each of these cooperative groups on a revolving scheme basis. The funds are accessed through micro finance banks to enable the beneficiaries start their businesses and ensure sustainability.

A bridge empowerment scheme introduced by the state has helped over 5000 youth to be engaged in public and private sectors of the economy. There are also other centres encouraged by the state but run by individuals and groups under an association known as Masters Trainer Association. The skills taught at these centres in form of apprenceship are captured as standards and certified by regulatory bodies.

Kwara was one of the first states that embraced the minimum wage, because of the realisation that happy and contented workforce will ensure the success of government plans and programmes. The government has granted over N3 billion in car loans to civil servants. There exists a robust dispute resolution mechanism where aggrieved labour groups get redress through designated channels.
Though a predominantly a civil service environment, new businesses springing and throwing up an emerging middle class. With the ongoing private sector-driven projects that are encouraged by government, the state currently generates about N900m monthly from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Meanwhile, due to the continued drastic reduction in monthly federal allocation, the governor said the state was in the process of accessing N23billion bond from the capital market to execute infrastructural projects. This is coming after successful completion and repayment of the N17billion bond accessed from the market in 2009.

The new bond would be expended on the International Vocational Centre, Metropolis water reticulation, solar power street lights, and completion of on-going road projects. The bond would also be used for renovation of the Indoor Sports Hall, Olympics-size swimming pool, volley ball and handball courts at the state stadium complex in Ilorin.

While some parts of the country are facing enormous challenges of insecurity, intolerance, illiteracy, poverty and disease, Kwara State seems to be one of most peaceful states where political class should avoid dirty politicking that could deprive the people the dividends of good governance.

Ilorin was a small town in the Oyo Empire by the beginning of the 19th century. Afonja, Baale of Ilorin, who also held the title of Are Ona Kakanfo of the Oyo Empire, rebelled against his king, the Alafin of Oyo, in 1817. (There is no space here for the reasons for his rebellion). In order to sustain his rebellion, he was desperate to build a large and powerful army. To that end, he did a number of desperate things.

First, he invited the people of nearby villages to move to Ilorin and turn Ilorin into a large town. Many people so moved, but most refused.

Secondly, he reached out to many prominent friends all over the Oyo country, and invited them to come and live in Ilorin. Some accepted his invitation and came. Among these was a rich trader named Solagberu from Kuwo. Another was a man named Alimi, a Fulani man who had long lived in the Oyo country peddling charms from town to town. Afonja employed Alimi to make charms for him and his army.

Thirdly, Afonja decided to exploit a religious situation that was causing trouble in the country at the time. A Jihad movement had started in Hausaland in the north in 1804, generating wars and stormy Islamic evangelism there. It was started and led by an immigrant people called Fulani. The Fulani immigrants were few among the large Hausa nation, but very many of the Hausa who were already Muslims sided with the Fulani – and thus made it possible for the Fulani to defeat the ancient Hausa kings and make themselves rulers over Hausaland.

Some of the violent Jihadist preachers trickled south into the Oyo country. Everywhere they came, they were causing a lot of commotion by preaching violent and disrespectful sermons against the Oyo kings and chiefs, and against Yoruba culture in general. Yoruba people, with their tradition of religious tolerance, were alarmed; and angry crowds began to attack the preachers. Afonja decided to exploit the situation by issuing a general invitation to the Muslims to flee to him in Ilorin, promising to give them protection there. Thousands of frightened Muslims fled to Ilorin, and Afonja trained many of them for his army. (Afonja himself did not intend to convert to Islam, and he never did).

Fourthly, most rich Oyo families had Hausa, Nupe and Fulani slaves – used mostly in farming, trading, livestock rearing, etc. Most were Muslims.

Afonja decided to exploit this also. He issued a proclamation saying that if any slaves ran away from their owners and came to him in Ilorin, he would give them freedom and protection there. Large numbers of slaves, mostly Hausa, fled to Afonja, and he trained some of them for his army.

Afonja thus had his large town and large army. Most of his army’s commanders and soldiers were Oyo Muslims. A few of the soldiers were Muslim Hausa – all slaves recently set free by Afonja. But many of his Hausa soldiers were unruly. He warned or threatened them repeatedly, but with no result. When he at last decided to discipline them, they mutinied. Afonja was killed in the mutiny – in 1823.

Meanwhile, while Alimi had been making charms for the army, he had become a friend to many of the Oyo commanders who were Muslims, and these hadmade him Imam (Islamic teacher and preacher) for the Muslim community in the army. After Afonja›s death, the same friends gradually made their Imam the ruler of Ilorin. They also created some officers among the Hausa soldiers – for instance, Balogun Gambari. The powerful men doing all these things were Oyo.

That then is how Oyo people made a Fulani man the ruler of Ilorin. When Alimi died, his elder son, Abdulsalam, was elevated to his father’s position by his father›s powerful Oyo Muslim friends. Adulsalam had lived in the Jihad in Hausaland and had only recently come to live with his father in Ilorin. He knew that the Jihad had made the Fulani the rulers of Ilorin – with a Fulani Sultanate based in Sokoto and quasi-independent Fulani Emirs in the separate Hausa kingdoms. So, after he was made ruler of Ilorin, he sent to Hausaland to announce that he had established an Emirate in Ilorin and to ask that his Emirate should be accepted as part of the Fulani Sultanate. In this way, Ilorin became a Fulani Emirate, ruled by a Fulani family.

Ilorin was, in population, still an Oyo town – probably over 95% Oyo in population. And Ilorin was never conquered or even invaded by any Fulani army. Those influential Oyo men who made Alimi and his son the rulers of Ilorin did so out of fervour for their Islamic faith.

When the news of the happenings in Ilorin spread all over the Oyo country, people were shocked to hear that Ilorin people had made the family of an obscure Fulani charm peddler their rulers.

Therefore, people formed armies to go and subdue Ilorin and flush out the Fulani impostors. None of these invasions of Ilorin succeeded. The invading armies were poorly organized, and, moreover, the old Afonja army defending Ilorin was just too powerful. In fact, in the end, the Ilorin people, in order to ensure perfect protection for their fervently Muslim town, decided to go out and conquer most of Yorubaland (all the way to the sea coast), and make all of it a Muslim empire ruled from Ilorin. Their army marched out in about 1838, conquering town after town towards the south, and causing mammoth streams of refugees. Till today, most Yoruba people still call this Ilorin invasion a Fulani invasion of Yorubaland. But it was not a Fulani invasion at all; it was an attempt by the predominantly Yoruba Muslim people of Ilorin to conquer and Islamize the rest of Yorubaland.

The victorious Ilorin march southwards ended suddenly in 1840. The refugees who had gathered in the Egba village of Ibadan had quickly become a large town. Their army marched out and met the Ilorin army in Oshogbo in 1840, and totally destroyed them, capturing many of their commanders. From then on, the power of Ilorin was more or less over, and Ilorin never dared again to face the Ibadan army in battle.

In the following years, Ibadan became the most powerful state in Yorubaland, and established control over the Oshun valley, Ife, Ijesa, Ekiti, Akoko, Igbomina and parts of Iyagba. Ilorin continued to be ambitious to control some territory in its immediate neighbourhood – in nearby Igbomina and Ibolo (especially Offa); but they feared Ibadan. In 1877, the Ekiti, Ijesa, Igbomina and Akoko revolted against Ibadan’s rule, and the Kiriji War started, keeping all these peoples and Ibadan busy until 1893. Ilorin took advantage of this and established some feeble control over parts of Igbomina and Ibolo.

However, at home in Ilorin itself, a proper Emirate could not develop. The powerful Yoruba war chiefs wanted to re-establish the traditional Yoruba political system whereby the chiefs in a kingdom select their king. The Emirs resisted. By 1895, the chiefs were winning the contest grandly – a situation which forced the Emir Momoh to commit suicide after setting his palace on fire. The victorious chiefs then installed Sulaiman as Emir. This was the situation when the forces of the British Royal Niger Company came and conquered Ilorin in 1897.

In the years that followed, it was the British that established Ilorin as a full-fledged emirate, making the Ilorin Emir like the Emirs of Hausaland. The Emir then took advantage of that to establish all sorts of Emirate-type control over Ibolo and northern Igbomina.

In short, Ilorin was never conquered (was never even invaded) by the Fulani. Ilorin is more than 90% Yoruba in population. The Igbomina, Ibolo, and Ekiti of Kwara, because they have hated the imposture of the Ilorin Emirs since the beginning of British rule, tend to be usually cool towards Ilorin. But, now, with the National Conference, all of that will, hopefully, change.

I need to add this note: The question about Ilorin is very likely to become a major bone of contention between the Yoruba and the North at the National Conference. We need to educate our people in preparation for this. I find, therefore, that this article on the subject has to be somewhat longer than the usual 1120 words, and I should be grateful if you would accommodate it together as one continuous piece.

Source Nigerian Tribune, April 6, 2014

The well organised and well attended economic summit took place at the African peoples hall, Onikanga, GRA, Ilorin, specifically on December 8, 2012 under the chairmanship of the former President of the court of Appeal and pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi (Rtd).

All the speakers at the epoch-making summit dwelled on topical issues that revolved around transforming the economic climate of the emirate to enable it provide job opportunities for the youths and reduce the alarming level of poverty in Ilorin and its environs.

The president of IEDPU and retired Chief Judge of Kwara state, Justice Saka Yusuf set the tone for the summit when in his opening remarks; he described the economic situation of Ilorin community as unpalatable.

He remarked, “I am most privileged, fortunate and delighted to warmly welcome you to this august occasion being organised by IEDPU to address the unpalatable and worsening economic situation that is bedeviling the Ilorin Emirate, particularly in recent times.

“Although, Ilorin had never been the most industrialised entity in Nigeria, the Emirate some years back, was blessed with so many industrial and commercial outfits which enhanced the economic well-being and respectability of the people of the emirate”.

He recalled that the people of the emirate also engaged in worthwhile traditional enterprises and trades such as Aso-oke (traditional cloth making), embroidery, pottery and animal husbandry among others.

Justice Yusuf however, lamented that, “the gains of yester-years, derived from such vocations, had been painfully eroded by the passage of time, mad rush for white collar jobs and general economic denudation occasioned by the negative implications of unbridled globalisation, which have left our people poorer and more economically disadvantaged”.

“When the traditional occupations have been neglected and virtually dead, the once booming opportunities in the public/civil service and the possibilities of being engaged by erstwhile thriving privately-owned establishments, which have virtually disappeared, conspired to expose our people to poverty and its attendant decadence,” the IEDPU president submitted.

He added, “the situation is so alarming because its effects had manifested heavily on the increasing population of jobless youths across the emirate coupled with the concomitant consequences on the security and general well-being of Ilorin Emirate.

“The persistence of these problems as observed by the union coupled with the patriotic observations of participants at the last (but one) national conference of the union held in December, 2011, compelled her to engage in series of activities that eventually culminated in today’s event”.

In his short speech, the chairman of the economic summit, Justice Mustapha Akanbi, expressed delight that, “the IEDPU has broken new ground. It is making progress. It is making history. And to me, it is great to be part of this history of our people.”

He noted, “by organising an economic summit at this point in time, the IEDPU has shown itself to be alive to the problems of the time and social responsibilities that have been foisted on us in these turbulent times.

“It is common knowledge that the generality of our people are experiencing difficult times, the poor are becoming poorer, while the exploiters and looters of our commonwealth are becoming richer. Poverty continues to stare us in the face.

“The people of Ilorin, once known to be hard working and committed to duty have suddenly become a different thing altogether. Some of them have become beggars and suddenly going from place to place to beg for sustenance. The most disheartening is the fact that the once thriving factories in the city have all closed down”.

Delivering a lecture on “Survey of Ilorin Emirate Economy: past, present and future, a renowned historian and astute administrator, Alh. L. A. K.  Jimoh, noted that Ilorin started as a flourishing economic and commercial centre. He added that the community in the past years boasted of some companies and industries where indigenes of the emirate played major roles.

Going down the memory lane, Jimoh pointed out that the naming of family compounds or houses in Ilorin was done to reflect the trade and vocations that the various compounds were famous for.

Jimoh who listed names of the earliest famous industrialists in the emirate said he deliberately did that to show that the current economic situation of the community calls for a concerted efforts of all to revitalise it.

In his own presentation, Alh. Ibrahim Yahaya who spoke on “Generating capital for Businesses” identified equity capital and debt capital as the two basic sources of capital to fund businesses.

He also identified the agencies of government such as the Bank of Industry, small and medium scale enterprise development agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and similar institutions that could be approached for financial assistance towards establishing industries by prospective investors from the emirate.

In his paper titled “Harnessing human capital of the Emirate”, an erudite scholar and administrator, Prof. Shehu Jimoh, noted that all the fields of specialisations have experts who are indigenes of Ilorin emirate.

He identified lack of unity and parochial interests as factors inhibiting the emirate from putting forward its best brains for appointments both at the state and federal levels.

As a solution to the problems bedeviling the emirate, Jimoh urged all the leaders of Ilorin community to double their effort in assisting in placing qualified emirate indigenes in federal positions because of their multiplier efforts on the community.

And to underscore the importance of the economic summit, all the papers presented and oral submissions made at the colorful event had been made in a book form.

SOURCE: Leadership

I have noted the contributions of past lecturers at this forum in sharing their professional expertise on various topic of importance to the people. I recall my bosom friends, Alhaji Kola Belgore, Jarman’n – Ilorin, a banker who talked about Banking and financial sector likewise Alhaji Tunde Yusuf’s last lecture on aviation industry considering the fact that Ilorin Airport would soon host one of the best and well-equipped International Aviation School in Africa.

Going by my working experience as an engineer, my topic should have centered on engineering but the fear of technical jargons which may not be understood here and for  spending almost four decades of my professional career in the private sector, I am compelled to narrow my topic on Entrepreneurship.

My paper therefore is not going to be an academic piece but a talk to ginger a wake-up call on our community. It is to stimulate our consciousness and challenge us on the need to use our advantage to advance the economic empowerment of the people. Furthermore, it is intended to correct the erroneous impression that our people are lazy folks and hangers on.

As you may be awre Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines Entrepreneur as “someone who starts a new business or arranges business deals in order to make money often in a way that involves financial risks.” Encyclopedia Americana defines entrepreneur “as a person who invests money in a business venture – usually a new venture in the hope of making profit by overcoming all along the controls and risks involved”. The popular online Wikipedia defines an entrepreneur as “a person who has possession of a new enterprise, venture or idea, and assumes significant accountability for the inherent risks and the outcome. He or she is an ambitious leader who combines land, labour and capital to often create and market new goods or services.”

It is interesting to note that early settlers of Ilorin who were largely Sudanese, Malian, Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba and others brought their entrepreneurial skills with them to the town. There were other itinerant merchants and travelers who came with other ventures and skills that have been domesticated in the Emirate. Some skills and ingenuities are peculiar to certain tribes, families and individuals or groups. For instance the Fulanis essentially keep livestock, the Nupes are experts in extraction of oil from groundnut and frying it to cake (kulikuli) while the Hausas are essentially into well digging, embroidery and roping. The Yorubas are popularly known for hunting, pottery, mud house building “olomo” and leather works. The general trades by most tribes include farming, commerce and weaving.

Names of some compounds, areas and families in Ilorin are direct reflection of their trade. For instance:  Ile Asileke (bead makers), Ile Alagbede (Blacksmith), Ile Olomo (mud layers), Adabata (shoe makers), Ile Alawo, Ile Oni ponmo, Ile Onisona (tanner and leather workers, etc). These are just a miniscule of the vast entrepreneurial activities developed and domesticated here in Ilorin Emirate.

The city is also proud to produce successful Entrepreneurs such as S.K. Dan Alhaji, a successful transporter; the Olumos, great merchants; the Amuda Kanikes, cattle traders; the Toyin Barubas, the Oloriegbes and the Olowo Okeres who were textile traders and the Sagayas who were traders and transporters and later graduated to industries.

Textile trade, became the most popular trade, probably because of the large number of individuals involved in the chain including threads making, weaving, distribution and sale of the finished products, this has being the major trade of the Oke-male area of Ilorin. Other trades that made Ilorin popular are leather tanning in the Alowo area of Okelele. Pottery making, which is a trade that engages most women, other than being a commercial product taken to Lagos, Onitsha, Port-Harcourt and Kano, the pottery factory (Ebu) along Ondoko also in Okelele area was a tourist attraction, though not yet developed to an international level.

The declining productivity and fortunes of these popular trades, weaving, leather work and pottery should be a subject of further study by historians, sociologists and psychologist. But efforts of the Oloriegbes in partnership with others to establish Prospect Textile Mill to produce thread, the main raw material for the textile weaving is not commensurate with the zeal to improve the usage in the form of improved loom structures.  There are many more raw materials but the usages do not increase proportionally to make the industry a success. Needless to remind us that Ebo Alaso textile mill located at Oke Ebo in Pakata Area would have been a foremost textile industry in the country today.

From the above, it is obvious that Ilorin has had a rich history of entrepreneurship skills. All have been lost due to so many factors. Some of the factors include influence of Western Education. With gratitude to Almighty Allah, to some extent Ilorin is no more lagging behind in the quest for western education. With many of its indigenes now well educated, there seems to be a paradigm shift from improving the entrepreneurship history of the town but rather we focus on seeking for plum jobs in Government and other organizations.

Another factor is modern day Politics which has turned most of our erstwhile hard working weavers, successful traders etc into political canvassers, job seekers and emergency contractors. Someone who cannot read or write has suddenly turned into a building and road contractor.  The educated ones have turned themselves into boot lickers desperately looking for political appointments.

There are indeed unlimited opportunities abound in the ancient city. Ilorin is a land of unlimited opportunities where many non-indigenes have excelled due to their entrepreneurial skills. A lot of brilliant lawyers in this category have made their marks in the law business starting their practice here in Ilorin. Some have conquered the State in the area of Industry. Similarly, the Ibos’ have settled and excelled in their entrepreneurial skills in commerce and now control the economy of the State in the wholesale and retail marketing of industrial goods. Even some religious sects are engaged in entrepreneurial campaign for their followers. Yes, because of our vast knowledge of the Quran and Islamic scholarship, a tradition of Ilorin Emirate, our Mallams too could have equally capitalized on this to develop the town. It gladdens my heart that the few of us that have taken the risk to venture into business despite our education, have not regret for going into risky terrain. Alhamdullillahi.

A few of our women too, have been successful entrepreneurs in the area of commerce, the likes of Alhaja Abebi Akosile, the Iyalaje of Ilorin, Alhaja Belawu Olumo, and most recently Alhaja Muinat Sagaya (not Shagaya) who is making waves across the nation. And of course, there are a lot of our women out there who are doing extremely well in the area of commerce in Oja Tuntun. What about our men?

Therefore, why and why not, can we not even use our God given and historical talents combined with our educational advantage to improve on what we met on ground? There can only be one Chief Justice of Nigeria, one President Court of Appeal and one President of Federal High Court amongst lawyers, and happily we have already had one of each from Ilorin Emirate; there can only be one Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works or one Chief Medical Director in the Teaching Hospital. Therefore, can’t our lawyers look more into private practice, rather than everyone wanting to be a judge? Similarly, our Engineers, can go out and make their own impact in the private sector rather than going to queue in the ministry. While others in humanities and other areas of specialization could explore the historical antecedent and turn the town around from the sleepy and painfully pathetic state we are now.

This treatise was not intended to bog you down nor bore you. Rather, it is to remind us that majority of our people are struggling to survive the hard economic situations in the country.

We should think and work as individuals and as groups on how to proffer solutions to myriad of problem bedeviling our people and to revitalize our entrepreneurship activities in order to create employment opportunities for our people to disentangle them from the shackles of poverty and deprivation.

*This an excerpt from an address by Engr. Sagaya (MFR), Zanna of Ilorin on Entrepreneurship during the Annual Dinner of Third Estate, held in Ilorin, Kwara on Sallah Day.

To a visitor, the new ultra-modern 20,000 capacity Juma’at Central Mosque is an edifice to behold, hence it is dubbed The pride of Ilorin. Its gates design and interior décoration are a replica of the second grand Mosque in Medinah, Saudi Arabia (the Mosque of the holy prophet Muhammed).

The six gates leading to the Mosque are named after some prominent leaders of the town who have distinguished themselves as the light of Islamic faith. Aside from its tourism potentials as well as being a place of worship, the new mosque has also brought about the cleanliness to the hitherto dirty Oja-Oba environment. The vicinity has been cordoned off with the Mosque’s security officials maintaining a 24-hour surveillance of the area. An environmental firm of international repute has also been engaged to ensure the cleanliness of the mosque and its environs at all times.

About N1.95 billion was expended on the expansion, re-modeling and general rehabilitation of the mosque which was first commissioned in 1981. The very first Ilorin central mosque was found in 1820. This was followed in 1835 when another central Mosque was built at Idi-Ape during the reign of AbdulSalam, the first Emir of Ilorin.

Sobi Hills, believed to provide protection to the natives during the ancient inter-tribal wars are also a tourists delight. Others are Okuta Ilorin located at Idi-Ape Quarters, from where the name of the city was derived. There is also Alfa Alimi’s mosque which was constructed in 1881.

STATUTE OF HORSE RIDING IN ILORIN.

Other places of attraction to tourists include the newly constructed multipurpose Banquet Hall located at Ahmadu Bello Way, Kwara Stadium Complex, new flying over bridge, national museum and monuments, Asa dam, Amusement park and International Aviation College. Ilorin International Airport, which also serves as International Cargo Airport operates local and international commercial flights. Besides, the International Conference Centre, ICC, situated along University Road, Tanke built by the RHEMA chapel is second to none among the Christian places of worship in the state capital.

Social and nightlife thrives in Ilorin. Though, in some areas of the city, liquor selling is forbidden, for those who love night life, various interesting hangouts which spread across the city provides good entertainment, including hot sizzling pepper soup prepared with any of fresh fish, smoked fish, goat meat, snake meat, bush meat snail and chicken. There are many hotels and guest houses which are daily patronized by all and sundry.

Historical account has it that the name of the ancient city was derived from Okuta Ilo-Irin which is located at the present day Idi-Ape Quarters. ‘Ilo-Irin’ meaning iron sharpener.

The account states that a Yoruba hunter and a prince from Ila-Orangun, the present day Osun State, known as Ojo Isekuse founded the ancient city, even though another account claims that Ilorin was founded by Afonja, the Yoruba generalissimo from old Oyo Empire, Afonja.

Significantly, Ilorin has grown to become a cosmopolitan city that continues to receive visitors from all walks of life on daily basis. Ilorin’s geographical location in the north central makes it easily accessible to all parts of the nation by air, road and rail transport. In fact, it is often regarded as gateway to the northern and southern Nigeria.

The indigenes, from time immemorial, are predominantly into farming, blacksmithing, weaving, pottery, beadwork and trading. The city was noted for Lantana bead of red coral up to the middle of 20th century. In modern times, the inhabitants are technocrats, captains of industry, legal luminaries, civil servants to mention a few.

Ilorin is famous for its rich culture interwoven with Islamic religion; hence it is often referred to as a ‘Centre of Islam and culture’. One of its sustained cultures is ‘Iyawo dance’.

It is a dancing group associated with traditional marriage.  A group of maids mainly teenagers constitute the group called “Ore Iyawo” (Bride’s friends). It involves mainly clapping, dancing and singing to beats. The main instrument is “Agbe” (gourd) of a special size and stick for beating the gourd accompanied with clapping to supply the desired sound.

Newly built Central Mosque at Emir’s Palace, Ilorin.The first Mossque built by Alfa Alimi around 1831

Ilorin is populated by all the major tribes in Nigeria including, Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Nupe, Baruba and Kanuri as well as other ethnic nationalities who cohabit peacefully. The diverse nature of Ilorin makes it a place where the inhabitants speak different indigenous languages. In the field of education, Ilorin people have contact with both islamic and western education around 18th and19th centuries respectively. The first primary school, Pakata LGEA School was established around 1930, while the premier secondary school (Ilorin Middle School) and now Government Secondary School was established in 1949. Since then, the ancient city has advanced educationally as it has more than 150 primary and post-primary institutions, including standard private schools.

Most of the higher institutions of learning located within the state capital include the University of Ilorin, Al-Hilkma University, Kwara State Polytechnic, College of Education, College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies (CAILS), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Michael Imoudu Institute for Labour Studies (MIILS), Federal Training Centre and Nigeria Stored Products, Research Institute (NSPRI), National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM) and Agricultural and Rural Management Institute (ARMTI) among others.

The ancient city is wearing a commercial look as strategic places within the metropolis serve as commercial centres apart from the major markets such as Baboko market, Ipata Market, Oja-Oba and Ojagboro among others. The General Post Office area is fast becoming the Broad Street of Ilorin with the increasing human and vehicular traffic. The city’s economic growth is complemented by the large presence of branches of major commercial banks in Ilorin.

SOURCE: Newswatch