The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Mai-Martaba Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, has rejoiced with the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq CON, on his 66th birthday anniversary.
He described the Governor’s age advancement as a testimony of Almighty Allah’s love and providence towards him adding that, “the enormous responsibilities and tasks ahead of you shall be achieved with resounding glorification to God.”
The Emir stated this in a congratulatory message to the Governor and his entire households for witnessing another moment of joy, remebering the roles and impacts of motherhood in the life of an accomplished child.
On behalf of the entire members of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Sulu-Gambari urged the Governor to use the moment of his birthday anniversary to remain strong in faith in the face of the unfortunate incidence that happened in Kaiama Local Government Area.
According to him, “You are such a dedicated, hardworking and visionary leader with distinctions. Our hearts and prayers are with you at this auspicious moment of your birthday. We pray for absolute comfort for you and your entire family members at all times.”
Alhaji Sulu-Gambari however appealed to the people of Kwara State to continue to support the Governor with prayers as well as upholding the rule of law in order to achieve more for the state.
The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Mai-Martaba Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, has commiserated with the people of Kaiama Local Government Area over the gruesome killings that occured in the area.
The Emir who described the incidence as babaric, unfortunate, condemnable, unwarranted and uncharitable to the innocent souls that fell victim of the attack, appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts towards curbing the re-occurence of the dastardly act.
This is contained in a condolence message issued on Wednesday by the Emir’s Press Secretary, Dr. Abdulazeez Arowona, stressing that, “The situation is worrisome and calls for urgent intervention by concern authorities. ”
Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, on behalf of the entire members of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council extended his condolences to the Emir of Kaiama, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Omar Mu’azu Kiyaru IV, over regrettable incidence.
He however commended the Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq CON, for his swift response and prayed Almighty Allah to grant the souls of the deceased absolute forgiveness and comfort their families.
Professor Yusuf Lanre Badmas, the former Dean of Post-Graduate School, University of Ilorin, who died on Friday 30th January 2026 was a man of impeccable honour and admiration.
A special tribute issued by the Press Secretary to Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Abdulazeez Arowona, revealed how the late scholar stood firmly towards the upliftment of younger generations and the Ilorin Emirate at large.
I have known, admired and respected Professor Yusuf Lanre Badmas for many years because of the love he had for my late father, Alhaji S.A. Arowona. As a young man, I always admired the way he always visited my dad but I never had the privilege to know the contents or subjects of their discussions.
He often brought gift of Holy Quran to my dad each time he travelled to Saudi Arabia as well as Jalabia, which I eventually inherited when my father died on Saturday 29th January 2011.
Since the demise of my dad, I always remembered late Professor Badmas’s visit to our house and his love became so deep in my heart and each time I wore the Jalabia gifted to my dad by him, I always carried both of them in my heart in bed.
Professor Badmas did not know why I admired him. He later bagged another version of admiration from me when I discovered that he was monitoring my career progression and always at peace with all my professional achievements.
He often called me THE ROYAL EDITOR or MAI-MARTABA’s JOURNALIST due to my role as the Press Secretary to the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR.
In most cases, he prefer to confirm the authenticity of ambigous matters in the society through our news platform and atimes, he will put calls across to me for clarifications. He was nice to a fault, with this, I can never stop missing him.
However, he once contacted me to be the unofficial Public Relation Officer of the Hijrah Organization of Nigeria in Kwara State stressing that “being the Peess Secretary of our father, the Emir of Ilorin, I am feeling some how to engage you with any other tasks relating to media” .
Each time, he has anything to do occasionally, such as Congratulatory statement on behalf of HIJRAH ORGANIZATION OF NIGERIA, he will send me a text and I will comply immediately and ensure that a Press Statement is written and circulated to the media.
When I embarked on the biography of Shaykh Muhammad Bashir Imam Solih OON, the 12th Chief Imam of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Council of Ulama tagged: The Spiritual Orator, I never hesitated to mention his name as the Scholar to write the FOREWARD and Review the all important book.
This was because I knew how Imam Agba liked him as a straightforward elderly scholar and community leader. The Chief Imam graciously approved his nomination among other things. While I was in Europe and battling with the book, I was already nearing about 90 percent completion, I called him and informed him of his roles to write the FOREWARD and also review the book.
With one phone dial, he was extremely happy and said: “Hope you know nobody has ever done this before, I am on standby for you, anything you want me to do, I am ready to be part of it.”
Throughout, my over 8hours on the train that day, I kept saying ALHAMDULILLAHI ROBIL ALAAAAMIN. To my surprise, Professor Yusuf Lanre Badmas became highly interested in the project and began to call me daily to know if I had sent the soft copy of the work to him for his assignment. What A Great Leader and Mentor!
At last, when I sent the work to him, he requested that I should include somethings to my intellectual work on Imam Gambari mosque which I mentioned in the book. Immediately I finished and reflected the idea that he gave me, I called to inform him, he said: “The Royal Editor, I am on my way now from Lagos, I trust you and I am always proud of you. The next thing you will see now is the FOREWARD.” Hmmmmm…. what a great honour and encouragement from a man who have seen it all in life!
SEE FOREWARD
Our event, the unveiling of the book was scheduled for Thursday 27th November 2025. I had a privileged information that Professor Yusuf Lanre Badmas and Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, the National Coordinator of the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWGN) who also served as the Chairman Planning Committee for the event would be traveling for an event in the Eastern part of the country and that both of them won’t be available.
As a muslim, I put my hope and trust in Almighty Allah and I kept praying. Suddenly, two days to the event, Professor Yusuf Lanre Badmas called me and said: “Insha Allah, I will attend the event in-person. It is an event that I don’t pray to miss because, it will later become a monumental honour not to the Chief Imam of Ilorin alone but to the entire humanity. I have to stand firmly with you in solidarity. ”
I screamed and shouted ALLAHU AKBAR, ALHAMDULILLAHI, ALHAMDULILLAHI, ALHAMDULILLAHI ROBIL ALAAAAMIN.
Immediately the book was delivered to me in Ilorin about 24 hours to the event, I called Professor Yusuf Lanre Badmas to inform him that I wish to drop the original copy for him to enable him finalise his assignment as the BOOK REVIEWER.
I was driving along Ibrahim Taiwo road and he directed me to take the book to his house at Adewole Estate and drop the book with Mummy Hashir. With very energy, I complied Immediately.
Later he called to inform me that he was in the hospital just do some check-up and will be back home soon. As the convener of the event, I couldn’t hold the message with levity, I rushed to see him at Crescent Hospital, Tanke area Ilorin.
He told me that he will be fine and that I should go ahead with my arrangements. I left the hospital and proceeded to the Banquet Hall, Opposite Government House for the decoration and other things.
Around 11pm, Professor Yusuf Lanre Badmas called him and told me that he may not be physically present at the event but arrangements are underway for a quality representation. But that he still hope to attend.
I later got information of how Professor Badmas told his medical Doctor to please get him an injection that will allow him to move out of the hospital just for 30mins to 1 hour to carry out the assignment at the Banquet Hall. The Doctor told him that there is no injection that can give him such strength.
Associate Professor Abdulhameed Yusuf Lanre Badmas receiving Thank-You-Award on behalf of Professor Yusuf Lanre Badmas shortly after the Book Review.
That was how Professor gave up and decided to send his son, Ustaz Abdulhameed Yusuf Lanre Badmas, an Associate Professor at the University of Ilorin who discharged the task excellently well.
Immediately, after the event, I went straight to the hospital to pay him a visit and thank him for the quality representation. Still, Professor told me that he watched the entire event on our facebook page while receiving treatment. What a great sacrifice, honour, humility, love and kindness!
I prayed for him and he told me so many things that day. It was in the presence of some of his children including Ustaz Shehu Yusuf Lanre Badmas, a professional colleague and friend.
Let me stop here for now. With all these brief narrations, I will continue to carry Professor Yusuf Lanre Badmas in very high esteem, even at death because he was one of the few elders that like to see younger ones doing good things, admiring them and encouraging them, mine is a case study.
May Almighty Allah continue to be pleased with his soul and comfort the wonderful families and legacies that he left behind.
Arowona Abdulazeez PhD, the Press Secretary to HRH Emir of Ilorin and Author of The Spiritual Orator writes via sardauna2@gmail.com
The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Mai-Martaba Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR has commiserated with the former First Lady of the State, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, over the death of her father, Otunba Adekunle Ojora (OFR).
Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, in a condolence message issued by his Press Secretary, Dr. Abdulazeez Arowona, described the incidence as unfortunate and great loss to humanity.
The monarch however thanked God for the life well-spent by the deseased stressing that, “Otunba Adekunle Ojora OFR was a great man during his lifetime and he shall remain so, even at death.”
Alhaji Sulu-Gambari therefore expressed his heartfelt condolences to the entire family members of the deseased both immediate and extended especially, the former First Lady of Kwara State, Mrs. Toyin Saraki.
He prayed Almighty God to comfort the families that Otunba Adekunle Ojora left behind and give them the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
Late Chief Imam of Ilorin, Dr. Muhammad Bashir Imam Solih OON
Fidau in honour of the 12th Chief Imam of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Council of Ulama, Dr. Muhammad Bashir Imam Solih OON, was held on Sunday 25th January 2026 amidst momoth crowd from within and outside the state.
ROYAL NEWS reports that Imam Muhammad Bashir died on 19th January 2026 at the age of 75 after a brief ilness.
Dignatries at the prayer were; Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Kayode Alabi, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, former Chief of State to the former President, Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, the Ciroma of Ilorin, Barr. Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari SAN, Turaki of Ilorin, Sen. Saliu Mustapha, Kuliya of Ilorin, Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali SAN, Zanna of Ilorin, Engr. Yusuf Lanre Sagaya OFR, Alhaji Hakeem Bello, Justice Idris Abdullahi Haroon OFR, Grand Mufti of Ilorin, Dr. Sulyman Farooq Onikijipa OON, Tafida of Ilorin, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje CON, and the Danmadami of Ilorin, Alhaji Shehu Ahmad Gafar OON.
Others are; the Sarkin Gobir of Ilorin, Pharmacist Yakubu Gobir, Grand Khadi of the Kwara State Shariah Court of Appeal, Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen, the Danmasani of Ilorin, Engr. Sulyman Yahaya Alapansanpa, Jagunmolu of Igbomina land, Alhaji Abdulraheem Oladimeji OFR, Amb. Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki MFR, NACCIMA National President, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim, Kuliya of Sokoto, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede CON, and the Barade of Okuta Emirate, Dr. Luqman Mustapha.
Among other important personalities at the event were; the Chief Imam of Offa, Sheikh Muyideen Hussein, members of the Ilorin Emirate Council, Chief Imams across Kwara South Senatorial District, traditional chiefs, sympathisers and members of the public.
In his lecture, the Grand Mukadam of Ilorin, Sheikh Sulyman Dan-Borno, eulogized the virtues of late Shaykh Muhammad Bashir Imam Solih OON stressing that the deseased lived a fullfiled life worthy of emulation.
Dan-Borno expressed great regret over the unfortunate incidence adding that, “who will be the next Chief Imam with unblemished character?
Also, the Grand Mufti of Ilorin, Dr. Sulyman Farooq Onikijipa OON, in his lecture expressed sasness over the death of Imam Solih and prayed Almighty Allah to grant him Al-Jannatul Firdaus.
The Chief Imam of Kaiama, Alhaji Umar Sabi Muhammed, is dead, ROYAL NEWS has gathered.
The cleric died on Saturday barely six days after the demise of the Chiwf Imam of Ilorin and Chairman Council of Ulama, Dr. Muhammad Bashir Imam Solih OON.
The deseased was was described as not just a religious leader but was also a pillar of Kaiama community, a beacon of guidance, and a symbol of peace.
A source told ROYAl NEWS that Alhaji Umar Sabi was highly knowledgeable, and used his moral leadership to touch countless lives, fostering unity, spirituality, and righteousness within Kaiama, stressing that, “His passing leaves a void that will be deeply felt by all who knew him.”
The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Mai-Martaba Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, has approved that the Fidau for the late 12th Chief Imam of Ilorin Emirate, Shaykh (Dr) Muhammad Bashir Imam Solih OON be held on Sunday 25th January 2026.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Emir’s Press Secretary, Dr Abdulazeez Arowona, on Tuesday.
He noted that, “His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR has announced that the fidau prayer for our late beloved father, the Chief Imam of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Council of Ulama, Dr. Muhammad Bashir Imam Solih OON be held on Sunday on 25th January 2026.
“The prayer will held at the Ilorin Central Mosque by 10am. The prayer will be led by the Imam Imale of Ilorin, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulhamid and other cleric in the Ilorin Emirate and beyond.”
The monarch urged the entire Muslim Ummah across all mosques to intensify prayers for the repose of the departed Imam Agba of Ilorin.
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