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.