His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, a direct descendant of the revered scholar, Sheikh Alimi, is the 11th Emir of Ilorin and permanent Chairman Kwara State Traditional Councils.
It is no longer news that Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State is strategically located as the gateway of peaceful co-existence between the Northern and Southern Nigeria.
It is so important and instrumental to the unity of Nigeria. Ilorin harbours many ethnic groups than any other emirates in Nigeria. The stool of Emir of Ilorin is one of the most revered and prominent seat of Royalty in Nigeria.
The stool belongs to the three most exalted class of monarchs holding the title of Shehu in the entire history of Northern Nigeria. There is Shehu Usman Danfodio of Sokoto, Shehu El-Kanemi of Borno and Shehu Alimi Dan Janta of Ilorin.
These are the descendants of Shehu Alimi who are also Emirs of Ilorin.
Emirs of Ilorin and dates:
Reign Ruler
18years Abdusalami Dan Alimi
18years Shitta Dan Alimi
8years Zubairu Dan Abdusalami
23years Shitta Aliyu Dan Shitta
5years Momo Dan Zubairu
18years Sulaymanu Dan Aliyu
4years Shuaibu Bawa Dan Zubairu
40years Abdulkadir Dan Shuaibu Bawa
33years Zulkarnaini Muhammadu Gambari Dan Bawa
3years Aliyu Dan Abdulkadir
1995 Till Date Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari Dan Bawa
Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari was turbaned as the Ciroman Ilorin by his late father and 9th Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Zulkarnaini Muhammadu Gambari in 1984 while in active service as the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division.
He finally ascended the throne of his fore bearers as the 11th Emir of Ilorin on August 28 1995 and was coronated on November 11, 1995 as he relinquished his position as the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division without any blemish.
Unique Qualities
There are 11 major things you need to know about the 11th Emir of Ilorin.
1. He was born on 22nd April 1940
2. He is a direct descendant of Sheikh Alimi
3. He became the Ciroman Ilorin on 30th November 1984.
4 He rose to become a Justice of Court of Appeal and served across the country.
5.He ascended the throne as the 11th Emir of Ilorin on 28th Aug 1995 and Coronated on 11 November 1995 at exactly 11:11am.
6. He is the son of Hajia Ayisatu (Imma) who is:
7 The granddaughter of the 7th Emir of Ilorin, Shehu Shuaibu Dan Bawa
8. The daughter of the 8th Emir of Ilorin, Shehu Abdulkadir Dan Shuaibu Bawa
9. The Wife of the 9th Emir of Ilorin, Shehu Zulkarnaini Muhammadu Gambari
10. The Sister of the 10th Emir of Ilorin, Shehu Aliyu Abdulkadir
11. The mother of the 11th Emir, Shehu Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari Jikan Bawa
As a quintessential personality, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari had the 7th Emir of Ilorin, Shehu Shuaibu Dan Bawa who reigned from 1915 to 1919 as both his maternal great-grand father (Shuaibu-Abdulkadir-Ayisatu-Ibrahim) and paternal great grandfather (Shuaibu -Muhammadu Laofe-Zulkarnaini-Ibrahim) making him to become an uncommon Prince and finally a rear Emir who can be described as a ‘White Elephant’ which is very scarce to come by in the forest.
Ayisatu is not only a rear Princess of the land but she is also indeed a complete Royalty. When His Royal Highness went on pilgrimage with his mother some years ago, while other pilgrims were busy carrying logages up and down, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari was busy carrying his mother showing the affection he has for her as commanded by Allah.
Achievements
The major factor that develops a community is Education. During the reign of Shehu Zulkarnaini Muhammadu Gambari (1959-1992), who is also the father of the present Emir, the Kwara State College of Technology now Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Kwara state College of Education, Ilorin while the University of Ilorin were founded.
During the reign of Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, tertiary institutions have continue to increase with the establishment of Al-Hikmah University, Kwara State University Malete and Muyideen College of education among other notable private and government owned establishments across the state such as International Aviation College and the Advanced Diagnostic Centre.
Not only that, the numbers of Professors of Ilorin origin across the world has continue to grow as Ilorin is now donating Professors to institutions across the country and world at large.
It is during his reign that two Professors of Ilorin origin ; Professor Shuaibu Oba Abdulraheem and Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali became the Vice Chancellor of the better by far University, the University of Ilorin and awarded Order of the Federal Republic, OFR, and Officer of the Order of Niger, OON, respectively. In addition, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah is also from Ilorin.
Insha Allah, you will still live to see more of them becoming VC in your lifetime.
Other dignitaries who rose to the peak of their careers include;
1. Justice Salihu Alfa Belgore GCON — Chief Justice of Nigeria
2. Admiral Ibrahim Ola Sa’ad GCON— Chief of Defense Staff
3. Justice Mustapha Akanbi CON— Chairman of ICPC.
4. Senator Bukola Saraki CON— Senate President among others.
He also spearheaded the renovation of the Ilorin Central Mosque that was constructed by his late father in 1979 to become a world class edifice and next to that of Prophet Muhammad in Medina, Saudi Arabia. This was brought to reality with the full support of the then Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
Until recently when he was redeployed to the University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State, the Emir had held sway as the Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka, Anambra State for 14 years (2001-2015).
During his 11th coronation anniversary on the throne in 2006, the Emir turbaned 11 personalities as traditional title holders in the community, prominent among whom are; Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (Turakin Ilorin) and a legal luminary who is also his eldest son, Barrister Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari (Ciroman Ilorin).
Sulu-Gambari has not only presided over the affairs of his immediate community in the years past, he was also a delegate to the last constitutional conference where he contributed immensely to the national discuss.
During his last interactions with members of the fourth estate of the realm (Journalists) the Emir advised President Muhammadu Buhari to commence process that will lead to implementation of the 2014 national conference as a way to restructure Nigeria.
He is of the opinion that the report does not have the force of the law yet and it needs to be given because it was the voice of the people that was not imposed on the people.
The emir therefore, advised the President to pass the report in form of a bill to the National Assembly in order to be included in the constitution and law for the good of the nation.
“The law is made for the people and people are not made for law. Nigerian people have gathered for a purpose, the people have spoken through their representatives.
“So the parliament would have to endorse it for necessary criteria that had been drawn up in the constitution.
“Having done that, it will now be passed as a bill and people of Nigeria can now say they have given unto themselves this piece in the constitution.”
He further stressed that the constitution presently in operation in the country was given to the people of Nigeria by the military.
“The military only gave us that one to guide and rule us. Men are not supposed to be made for law, but rather, laws are supposed to be made for men.
“Men should be supreme and the constitution of Nigeria is the ground norm; the highest law in the land”, he added.
Sulu-Gambari said since Nigeria was in the period of restructuring, the document gathered during the confab should be looked into as part of documents for restructuring.
“I believe it should not be thrown into dustbin as the experienced professor, Professor Agboola Gambari, has said”, he said.
The White Elephant also founded the Shehu Alimi Foundation for Peace and Development with 11-man Committee and made Sheikh Dr. AbdulKadir Oba-Solagberu its National President.
With these achievements and many more, the White Elephant son of Bawa -Allah has indeed came, he has seën and he has conquered.
Allah Ya Jah Zamani Farin Giwa !
Allah Ya Kara Girma Mai-Martaba Sarki’n Ilori!!
Allah Hokku Nasara Alh.(Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR!!!
Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona is the National Secretary of Shehu Alimi Foundation for Peace and Development.
