The Making Of New Mutawali Of Ilorin

The Making Of New Mutawali Of Ilorin

On Friday, 18th March, 2022, all roads led to Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State.

It is a date that the people of Ilorin Emirate will not forget in a hurry because of the traffic of eminent personalities that visited Ilorin that day.

The event that brought the very important personalities to Ilorin on that special day was the turbaning of the eldest son of the late AGF AbdulRazaq (SAN), Alimi AbdulRazaq, a doctorate degree holder in Law and former chairman of National Iron Ore Manufacturing Company, Itakpe, as Mutawali of Ilorin.

In recognition of the important role the AbdulRazaq Family of Yerinsa compound, Idigba, Ilorin played and still playing in the development of Ilorin Emirate, the Emir of Ilorin, Alh Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari had appointment Alimi the second Mutawali of Ilorin, following the death of the AbdulRazaq’s partriach, Alh AGF AbdulRazaq.

The colourful turbaning ceremony which took place at the Emir’s palace in Ilorin was witnessed by the great and the good of Nigeria and of the Ilorin Emirate, led by Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo;Chief of Staff to the President Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq;Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi; Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Engr Yakubu Danladi- Salihu; members of the National and State Assembly; cabinet members; top members of the bench and the bar; and title holders from within and outside of the emirate.

Others were first class traditional rulers from within and outside of Kwara State, including the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; members of the business and academic communities.

Speaking at the event, Osinbajo congratulated Dr. Alimi AbdulRazaq on the conferment of the title of Mutawali of Ilorin on him.

Osinbajo, a Nigerian law schoolmate to the Mutawali, said Dr. Alimi brings many sterling qualities to the royal title.

“His accomplishments in law, education and participation in banking industry are testaments to the qualities of Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq. He follows in succession to his late father Alh. AGF AbdulRazaq (SAN) as the first Mutawali of Ilorin,” he said.

“We can all attest to the fact that the new Mutawali of Ilorin brings many qualities to the title. The first class mind who has navigated the legal profession and the complex world of business and politics at the highest level possible strictly on the merit of his own capacity and the weight of his contributions.”

Osinbajo applauded the Mutawali’s outstanding contributions to human rights protection in Africa, which he said set the framework for the establishment of Africa Court for Human and Peoples Rights.

“What stands him out for this role is his compassion and belief in upholding the human dignity at all levels. Some may not know that his PhD thesis on human right protection in Africa set the framework for the establishment of Africa Court for Human and Peoples Rights which was commissioned by the Organisation for African Unity (now African Union),” he added.

The Emir of Ilorin, Alh Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari said Dr  Alimi AbdulRazaq and the AbdulRazaqs of Ilorin deserve the honour from Emirate for their sterling contributions to the ancient city, Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole.

“AbdulRazaq family deserves the honour received today from the people of Ilorin Emirate. May Allaah bless the position. I believe the family will continue to contribute to the development of Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State and Nigeria in general,” the monarch said.

Sulu-Gambari also commended the Vice President for his contributions to national development and for coming to honour the Emirate on the historic occasion.

“We know your contributions to the development of our dear country Nigeria. I know you love Ilorin and we acknowledge your support to our state,” the Emir said.

In a tribute, the Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly,Engr Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, congratulated Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq on his turbaning as the new Mutawali of Ilorin.

“The choice of Dr. Alimi for the coveted traditional title of Mutawali of the Emirate is apt judging by the impeccable and outstanding record of excellence and community service by the first child of the first lawyer from northern Nigeria. We are confident  that the Emirate would benefit tremendously from the wider experience the first Ph.D. holder in law in Ilorin has garnered over time.

“We also rejoice with the first family – the AGF AbdulRazaq family – and our amiable Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on this well-deserved conferment of the title of Mutawali of Ilorin Emirate on Dr. Alimi AbdulRazaq.

“On behalf of my colleagues at the Ninth Assembly, we wish our father a successful reign, long life, wisdom, and sound health in this new assignment of community service,” the speaker said in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Sheu Yusuf.

Also, the Olomu of Omu-Aran , Oba AbdulRaheem Adeoti, described the appointment of Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq as Mutawali of Ilorin as well deserved.

The monarch, in a statement by the spokesman of Omu-Aran Development Association (ODA), Olayinka Owolewa, said the presence of  creme de la creme in the state in the past few days confirmed how influencer AbdulRazaq family is in Nigeria.

Oba Adeoti took turn to congratulate all the AbdulRazaq family and prayed that the Mutawali’s reign will bring upliftment and development to the Ilorin Emirate.the prestigious traditional title.

Speaking on the significance of the title of Mutawali, the chairman of the organising committee for the turbaning event, Dr  Yusuf Lawal said : “ It’s an honorary title giving to the people of timber and calibre, with interest of community at heart.

“The title is meant for the trustworthy person, who can use his sincerity for the betterment of the Emirate, state and humanity”.

Speaking with newsmen after the turbaning ceremony, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq thanked the Emir of Ilorin for finding him worthy of the appointment.

The new Mutawali restated his commitment to the unity, progress and development of Ilorin Emirate, saying that he would use all his resources, knowledge and influence to attract more development to the city.