Sunday, February 23, 2025 marks exactly 33rd year after the demise of the penultimate Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Sulu Gambari, CFR. The late Emir died in a German Hospital after an old-age related illness. His remains were subsequently buried in the ancient palace and at a place where his predecessors were also laid to rest, a few days after his transition to the great beyond.

Just like we used to say “eyin omo keke ewa gba sara”, let me declare from the onset that this piece is not for the elderly. There is nothing I would say therein that is unknown to compatriots of my age and those who are our elders.

This piece is, therefore, for those born in the last forty years.They are those who might not have witnessed or heard as much about the enigmatic personality and reign of this unforgettable traditional ruler who was equally the first Emir of Ilorin with proper Western education.

The late Emir was preceded in office by his beloved uncle and father-in-law, Shaykh Abdulkadir Shuaib Bawa, who reigned from 1919 to 1959. He was equally succeeded by his cousin and brother-in-law, Shaykh Aliyu Babaagba Abdulkadir, who held the position between 1992 and 1995. These two traditional rulers remain the longest-serving and shortest-reigning Emir of Ilorin, respectively.

This unforgettable monarch was the 9th Emir of Ilorin. He was equally the father of the incumbent, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR.

The late Emir was the pioneer Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Chiefs. He was also the Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Akure

The real transformation of Ilorin could be said to have started under his watch. It was during his reign that his beloved city became the capital of Kwara State as well as a university town, among other modern infrastructures and institutions attracted or located in Ilorin.

The late Emir worked with over 10 governors and administrators of Kwara State from 1967 to 1992. Three of these governors were democratically-elected while the rest were military personnel who hailed from different parts of the country. Only two of these governors, the late Brigadier-General David Lasisi Bamigboye, CON, and Group Captain Salaudeen Adebola Latinwo were from Kwara State. They were indigenes of Omu-Aran and Offa, respectively. None of them hailed from Ilorin.

I chose to write on the late Emir, who, as at the date of this publication, remains the second longest reigning Emir because of the mathematical congruence of “this day” in his life and times.

How? Today marks the 33rd year of his death. He was also on the throne for approximately 33 years. The time of his death was also a few days to the Ramadan season of 1992, the year he passed on. He also died on a Sunday.

I was not too young when the late Emir died at the age of 78. I was in my early 20s and a student of Kwara State College of Education, Oro. I attended his burial ceremony. I also monitored the live coverage of the 8th day prayer organised for further repose of his soul from my hostel in the Igbomina town of Oro.

The Emir was greatly loved by all. Every son and daughter of Ilorin was very proud of him and his leadership style.

He was blessed with many qualities. But the one I found most exciting was his love for Ilorin. He was also bold and courageous as he always spoke eloquently, admirably and elegantly about Ilorin.

When L. A. K. Jimoh in his “Ilorin: The Journey So Far” says Alhaji Gambari “would boldly and succinctly defend or demand Ilorin’s right from or before anybody, anywhere and at anytime”, I agree with him. The author is right as I was a witness to some of his acts of bravery targeted at either preserving or projecting the corporate interests of Ilorin.

First, I recommend that interested readers should listen to his 1982 Idel-Fitri sallah message. The speech is acidic to those he believed were enemies of Ilorin as it excites indigenes and friends of the southernmost Emirate.

One other particular episode that I was an eye witness to, happened either in 1989 or 1990. It was at a Maolud Nabiy ceremony organised by the Ilorin Muslim community. The Master of Ceremony had invited the then Chief Imam of a community outside Kwara Central (I know the name of the town and the Imam but would not release either of the two) to read from the Holy Quran. The Imam, who completed his training in Saudi Arabia, majestically mounted the rostrum to discharge the assignment.

He read the glorious book to the amazement of all. He was hailed for reading the holy book with an enticing voice.

After the rendition, the MC congratulated the Imam on his brilliant performance. Members of the audience, including your truly, also hailed him.

The Emir, thereafter, asked for the Microphone. In a very clear language, he said the episode of the Imam from another Senatorial District reciting the Holy Quran in Ilorin surprised him beyond what words could capture.

He described the incident as “kantankantan” (a negative surprise). The Emir declared that, though the reciter was entitled to divine rewards for what he did, the entire people of Ilorin would share in his rewards.

His reasons: Ilorin people tried hard in convincing the progenitors of their neighbours to accept Islam. He added that no effort could be compared to what Ilorin people did in exposing the forebears of the Imam to Islamic learning and culture.

The Imam till his death many years after always avoided public gatherings where he would either be asked to read the Quran or preach in Ilorin. He didn’t want a repeat of the proper treatment he received.

Much earlier, in 1984 and in preparation for his silver jubilee anniversary celebration on the throne of his forebears, the Emir had granted the then Nigerian Herald (now The Herald) an interview in preparation for the celebration.

The media outfit was represented by two reporters and a photographer. One of the reporters was an Ilorin man while the other was from another Senatorial District of Kwara State.

After introducing themselves on the Emir’s request , the reporters went into business. The other man, who was the senior, was the person who first threw a question at the late Emir.

He asked the Emir to highlight some of his achievements since he mounted the throne of his forebearers.

The Emir, after clearing his throat, responded that one of his achievements was the unfettered liberty accorded the reporter to come and interview him in his palace. The Emir elaborated further that, before then, forebears of the reporter dared not enter his Palace which he himself compared to the lion’s den in the good old days nor to talk of coming to ask him questions .

Alhaji Gambari repeated emphatically that prior to his ascension to the throne, none of the progenitors of the reporter would sit before an Emir of Ilorin to ask him questions as the man was doing.

The late monarch was quoted to have added that the stool of the Emir of Ilorin was not a “yeye” one that can be toyed with by anyone.

The reporter was said to have gone blank immediately as he neither expected nor experienced the Emir’s response to what he regarded as his innocuous question. He couldn’t ask any other question (s) thereafter as he left the palace with deflated ego of himself and his ethic background.

Aileja ni ita Baba mi o de biyi (a courageous person would always be so anywhere he finds himself).

In 1987 or thereabout, the Emir visited Akure, the capital of Ondo State. He was there for his formal inauguration as the Chancellor of FUT, Akure. He had gone there with many of his chiefs including the then young and brilliant Chief Imam of Ilorin, Shaykh Muhammad Bashir Saliu.

The Emir and his entourage went to the Akure Central Mosque for the Jumaat prayers. On getting there, the second Grand Mufti of Ilorin and mentor of majority of the then Ondo State-born Islamic clerics, Shaykh Khidir Salaudeen Apaokagi Al-Adabiy requested that the prayer should be led by Shaykh Saliu but the then Chief Imam of Akure, Shaykh Yayi Akorede, would not allow a situation where a Visiting Imam would perform his role. Shaykh Apaokagi explained to Imam Akorede that anywhere the Emir goes in that region in company of the Ilorin Chief Imam, the super talented cleric must always lead the congregation prayer the late Emir would be part of.

After much persuasion, the Akure Chief Imam eventually gave in. The Emir did not only prayed for him after the prayers but also ensured that he was “returbaned” by the Chief Imam of Ilorin after which he declared that his Imamship of Akure had received the blessings of Ilorin.

Coincidentally, the respect he showed the Emir and his entourage was rewarded by Allah. The then Chief Imam of Akure was appointed as the President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland a week after.

His stance on Ilorin interests was also not unknown to the federal authorities. The then Head of the federal military government, General Olusegun Obasanjo, in his book, “Not My Will” recalled that he had to personally intervene in the crisis of confidence, which erupted between the late Emir and the then Governor of Kwara State, Col. George Innih.

The late Emir would later say in the speech earlier mentioned that he had told the federal authorities to be mindful of the calibre of people to be posted to Ilorin as he would not tolerate any form of disrespect for his community.

Towards the end of his eventful reign, the late Emir, just like the reigning Emir of Ilorin, became an extraordinary figure and mentor to many of his colleagues. This much was acknowledged by the penultimate Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, CON, and the respect accorded him by the immediate past Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi,CFR, when the late Emir honoured his invitation to the inauguration of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, GCFR, as Aare Onakankafo of Yorubaland in his palace in the late 1980s.

That was the vintage Alhaji Gambari. He was a great man and defender of Ilorin and its causes and heritage.

As we remember the late iconic Emir today as ever, I pray to Allah to forgive his shortcomings and favour his soul with Aljanat Fridaouz. May he also grant the incumbent Emir, who is an exact replica of his father, long life, longer reign and sound health.

Imam is National Secretary, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union.