The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, has directed that a gesture of 1,000 bags of rice (25kg) delivered to him from a non-governmental organisation, The Paul Erinne Foundation be distributed to the less privileged in the society.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Emir’s spokesman, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona on Saturday stressing that the gesture was meant for the ‘poorest of the poor’ as indicated by the donor.
According to the statement, “The chairman of the foundation, Engr. Paul Erinne, had approached His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR and introduced himself as a very close ally of late Gen. Abdulbaki Babatunde Idiagbon, the former Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters between 1983 and 1985.
“Engr. Erinne chronicled his relationship with the late incorruptible Army General and confirmed the numerous support accorded him during his lifetimes. It was on this basis that he extended good gesture to the people of the ancestral home of Gen. Idiagbon.”
Arowona further stressed that, “Alhaji Sulu-Gambari has directed the distribution team to visit mosques within the Ilorin Emirate and ensure that the less privileged are identified for that purpose.
“The Emir further confirmed that late Gen. Abdulbaki Babatunde Idiagbon was a patriotic Nigerian and worthy ambassador of Ilorin Emirate for him to have been remembered with such a laudable support for his people by another good friend after 24years of his demise.
“He prayed Allah to continue to have mercyon his soul and grant him Al-jannatul Fridous.”
According to the donor, the idea was conceived in line with best global practices not just to lift Nigerians out of poverty but to also improve the quality of life.
“This commitment has been the driving force in the interventions the Foundation has made in health-care support, in human empowerment, and in human capital development across many cities in Nigeria.
“In all modesty, indigenes of Enugu, Kogi, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Lagos, Ondo and Taraba states have benefitted from the largess of Paul and the Foundation”, he added.
