Date: 2019-06-05

Although, it was a bitter pill for the entire people of the Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State and Nigeria to hear that a Mother-At-Large and citizen of the world, Her Royal Majesty, Alhaja Aishat Nma Sulu-Gambari, died on Monday 3rd June 2019 but there is every reasons to be thankful to the Most Exalted in Might, (Allah).

Nma was one of the devout Muslim ummah who started the race of the 2019 Ramadan fasting, she completed it and opted out at the finish line.

Until her death, she remained the most unique woman on earth, (globally) with full royal blood. History/Research is yet to proof my position wrong that up till today, there is no one like late Aishat Nma Sulu-Gambari. She was a quintessential human being, Princess, Queen and Mother Queen. However, Nma as popularly called, was the

1. Granddaughter of the late 7th Emir of Ilorin, Shehu Shuaibu Bawa (1914-1919)

2. Daughter of the late 8th Emir of Ilorin, Shehu AbdulKadir Dan Shuiabu Bawa, (1919-1959)

3. Wife of the late 9th Emir of Ilorin, Shehu ZulKaiani Muhammadu Gambari CFR (1959-1992)

4. Sister of the late 10th Emir of Ilorin, Shehu Aliyu AbdulKadir (1992-1995) and

5. Mother of the 11th Emir of Ilorin, Mai-Martaba Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR (1995- Till date)

Her demise is nothing but a great testimony of life well spent, worthy of emulation, praises and thankful to Allah. Few years ago, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Ilorin performed pilgrimage in the holy land of Makkah and personally observed the spiritual exercise of Tawwaf and other rites holding his mother (now late) and refused anyone to take up his duties to her saying "nobody should assist me, this is my load that I must carry".

What a great honour? The long years of supplications of the people for the Emir has finally been granted by Allah to protect us against death in the reverse order. It is indeed a colossal loss but, Alhamdulillahi Robil Aaaaalamin. Your Royal Highness, please accept my condolences, take heart sir. We are all pained but Allah has done the best to us. Aishat Nma Sulu-Gambari's death finally marks end of an era.

May Allah forgive her shortcomings, grant her al-janatul firdaos and give us all the fortitude to bear the great loss Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, a journalist and National Secretary of Shehu Alimi Foundation for Peace and Development writes from Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia via sardauna2@gmail.com