The governor of Kwara state, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) , on Thursday joined the Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari in participating in the 2023 IlorinDurbar, an annual socio-cultural festival of the Ilorin emirate featuring colourful horseback riding and other local displays.
The governor had according to the statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye earlier paid homage to the Emir, after which his delegation returned home to mount their horses as part of the cultural ceremony that attracted leading traditional title holders and thousands of sons and daughters of Ilorin.
Mounted on the back of his hugely decorated horse alongside his brother, the Mutawali of Ilorin, Dr Alimi Abdulrazaq, the governor congratulated the people of the Emirate on the annual cultural festival which honours the Islamic monarchy of Sheikh Alimi, projects the valour of its people, unites the community, and boosts local commerce.
‘The AbdulRazaq administration has made cultural festivals across the state a key component of its drive for a greater Kwara, in which a handful of projects — visual arts centre, innovation hub, sugar film factory, and international conference center, among others — are being developed to build a new economy around tourism eco-system, technology and innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Decked in glamorous cultural attires, the Abdulrazaqs paraded several horses mounted by young and old members of the family to welcome the Emir’s large entourage of royal courtiers to their frontage, keeping alive the long-standing tradition that sees the Ilorin monarch tour his community ahead of the grand parade and other ceremonies at his forecourt later in the afternoon.
The royal carriage touched base with many other family houses and Daudus, including Basambo, Abojumeji, Agaka Isale, Ajia Sakasaka, Bayero, Jiddah, Baboko, Magaji Ngeri, Taiwo, Ita Amodu, Afin, Ita Kure, among others.
A few royal chiefs including the Ciroma of Ilorin, Mayaki of Ilorin, and Magaji Ngeri of Ilorin were part of Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari’s royal entourage. The procession was televised live across all of the government’s electronic media channels and a few other private ones’ the statement said.
‘We thank Almighty Allah for making us witness another Durbar of Ilorin Emirate. It is a significantly important culture to the people of Ilorin Emirate, which we commemorate every year. This event unifies and brings us all together to be our brother’s keepers.
We believe in our religion and of course our culture and our monarchy. At the backend of this is the economic benefit to the state and the emirate as well. Business activities are doing very well, hotels, commercial buildings and relaxation centres alike. You can see how the people are happy, the merriment, the horse riders and everyone. We are having a good time today in Ilorin. In fact, we are enjoying it’ the statement quoted the governor to have submitted while talking to reporters on Thursday.
‘The Durbar holds as the state government opened up a few other centers for the citizens to have fun-filled Eid celebrations, including the flower garden that has been given a facelift and the amusement park’ Ajakaye added.
The Ilorin Durbar is held every second day of Eid-ul-Adha bringing together thousands of citizens of the city and visitors- Team@orientactualmags.com
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