Adieu “The Champion”: The Only Horse We Lost During Ilorin Emirate Durbar 2025 [VIDEOS]

Apart from the two cart horses that conveyed the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Mai-Martaba Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, to the venue of the 2025 Ilorin Emirate Durbar, held on Sunday, June 8, 2025, riders displayed over 1,000 horses.

One of them was “The Champion,” a Brown giant horse owned by an Ilorin Prince and serving Army General, I.B. Buhari, popularly known as ‘BRAZO’, a hippophile, a patriotic Nigerian and philanthropist par excellence, mentor, not only to younger generations but also to his contemporaries and older folks.

Recall that, then as a Colonel,’BRAZO’ emerged ‘Overall Best Participant’ of the Army War College Nigeria Course 4/2020, he was the Course 4 President, was also named the participant with the ‘Best Paper’ and received the Chief of Army Staff, ‘COAS Golden Award’ for coming tops.

The care given to BRAZO’s horses is a complete replica of the efforts and comfort provided by the Emir of Gombe and Chairman Gombe State Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji (Dr) Abubakar Shehu Abubakar CFR, a monarch with a distinct approach to breeding horses, cattle, and rams. He is often referred to as Mai Dubu’n Doki (owner of a thousand horses)

This year’s Durbar witnessed overwhelming acceptance from the people of Ilorin and Nigerians as a whole, understanding that the festival has become a tool for national integration and promoting unity in diversity.

Immediately, the Emir set out from the palace to the Durbar venue at the Base Ball Park along Adeta road, he went through Isale-Oja, Oke-kura, Ita-Ogunbo, Pakata up to Adeta roundabout. At every junction, the crowd keeps increasing because everybody wants to see the Emir and be in his company. Looking at the crowd, I quickly remembered what the Emir of Gombe used to qualify Ilorin City during one of my private conversations with him, he said: “Shettima, how is Ilorin now? Ilorin is densely populated, left and right, you see crowds everywhere. “Your Highness, Ilorin is populated more than what you saw during your visit to the ancient city of Ilorin. The Ilorin Emirate Durbar 2025 Case Study is a clear testimony.

As we were approaching Pakata round about, I came down from the bus and I walked closely to the two cart-horses conveying Shehu Alimi, I carefully watched the Coachman as he was controlling them together, walking very slowly and setting down their vast hairy hoofs with great care while the Emir was responding to salutations from subjects hailing Sheeeeeeeeeeu! Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeu!! Sheeeeeeeeeeeu! From left, right, front, and back, while trumpeteers keep boosting his morale with different stanzas from Algaita.

Behold! Despite his advanced age, I saw that the Emir was full of energy because one of his happiest moments is when he is with his people. Again, I quickly flashed back to a few months ago when he returned from Turkey and was received by a powerful delegation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. On getting to his private residence in Abuja, the first thing he said was, “I want to go to Ilorin because my people are expecting me back home”.

I also trekked from Pakata Primary School to Adeta, the venue of the Durbar. We were happy trekking and watching the Emir with high morale and energy.

Despite all the fantasies and vibes of the Ilorin Emirate Durbar, which has been adjudged by the people as one of the best so far in the history of Ilorin, unfortunately, we lost “The Champion”.

The horse was in active service and gallant for the festival and was never sick. It was incredibly agile, with the ability to quickly change direction, speed, and pace. It also possessed impressive strength, enabling it to carry her rider and withstand physical demands.

While displaying strength at the venue of the festival, “The Champion” combined strength and agility in excess and eventually lost its balance. While its rider quickly fell from its back, “The Champion” couldn’t control its high speed and collided with a car parked at the venue. To the glory of God Almighty, no human life was lost at the venue of the Ilorin Emirate Grand Durbar despite the crowd.

Unfortunately, “The Champion” could no longer complete the race nor win the trophy as it paid the Supreme Price because it died in active service, especially on the day of the Durbar.

This year’s Durbar united everybody across, politics, commerce, career, social and economic status, public and private sectors, young and old, indigenes and residents, visitors/tourists, friends and well-wishers.

We pray that Almighty Allah continue to strengthen His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, as he continues to preserve the cultural heritage of the people of Ilorin Emirate, and may the spirit of love, unity, and togetherness never disappear in Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State at large.

Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona PhD, FSPSP, FICRPC, FICMC, ACEN, MGOCOP, NUJ, anipr,_, spokesman to HRH Emir of Ilorin writes via sardauna2@gmail.com