Date: 2014-07-31

Preservation of heritages of any kind is as important as innovation if not more than, due to its significance in the championing of the cause for which such thing was put in place.

As opposed to carnivals of different kinds usually organized by communities across nation-states most especially in Nigeria to mark a particular memorable period, Ilorin's source of pride was, and it is still the Holy Quran. Such pride and honour which is usually demonstrated annually to mark the end of the month of Ramadan in the Ilorin Emirate.

At this, the community usually presents the groomed children who are vast in the readings of Al-Quran in different intonations such as; Arabians, Adabiy, Markazzy, Al-Fulany as well as the local tunes of revered scholars of the land.

This efforts became necessary owing to the fact that Ilorin Emirate was established some 200 years ago by Sheu Soliu Alimi (Alfa Agba) and his contemporaries with the Holy Quran and fervent prayers to God requesting for an Islamic community where absolute protection of lives and property will be guaranteed at all times.

Last Saturday, sons and daughters as well as friends and visitors to the community gathered at the palace of the Amirul Muhmini and Emir of Ilorin, Mai-Martaba Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, to make yet another edition of the programme a success as organized by the Ilorin Emirate Descendant Progressive Union, IEDPU, in collaboration with NACOMYO.

The event which can be called 'Ilorin Carnival' is an annual traditional programme which usually showcases the rich heritage of Ilorin with lecture from seasoned clerics as well as numerous Islamic praises while the Emir crowns it all with admonitions and praises to Allah for His mercies on his subjects.

At this year's event, the Grand Khadi of the Kwara State Shariah Court of Appeal, Justice Idris Haroon, urged government at all levels to intensify efforts towards ensuring the security of lives and property of citizens across the nation stressing that this needs the involvement of stakeholders such as the traditional institutions.

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the jurist also advised politicians to play the game according to its rules by avoiding politics of bitterness or do-or-die affairs stressing that there is need to be fervently prayerful and submissive to the 'wills' of Almighty Allah.

In his speech, the Chairman of the Ilorin Ramadan Traditional Committee, Alhaji Abdullahi Ayo Garba, felicitated with the people of the community and charged them to be good ambassadors of the land in their respective endeavours.

He also raised alarm over spate of insecurity, joblessness, underdevelopment among others as being witnessed in Nigeria urging the government to expedite towards the revival and resuscitation of the moribund and dilapidated industries in order to absorb more agile and employable youths.

According to him, "The IEDPU has taken the bull by its horns by setting up a standing committee on security. We must therefore be reminded that Ilorin is a peace loving town and Kwara State is a state of harmony. We should therefore be seriously guided by our acronym of a "State of Harmony".

Alhaji Ayo Garba who had visited the Emir of Ilorin at his palace prior to the date of the event noted with pleasure that, "Ilorin Emirate right from onset is known for peaceful co-existence and harmonious working relationship among its people. This unique quality has in addition adjudged the community as the most peaceful place in the nation.

"There is no doubt that your reign as the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Traditional Council is witnessing tremendous growth and development across the state", even as they prayed Allah to continue to guide and guard Alhaji Sulu-Gambari.

The event however witnessed lecture from a Lagos based Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Zubair Al-Gamawy, who enjoined Muslim faithful to contribute their quotas to the development of the community as well as to the upliftment of the Islamic morals and values.