IEDPU: Dump divisive politics, unit to lift Ilorin, Emirate indigenes advised

By Mumini AbdulKareem
Top indigenes and leaders across the five local governments of Ilorin Emirate have been advised to unit for the progress and upliftment of the region at both the state and global level even as they have been urged to shun divisive politics in the interest of the state.
This is coming on the heels of a call for the convening of a unity conference for all indigenes of Ilorin irrespective of political affiliations by the Emir to chart a common course of development.
This was the thrust of the submissions by various stakeholders at the 55th Annual Conference of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) and N2 billion Fundraising for the construction of the group’s ICT/Skill Acquisition Hub as well as launching of 2021 Almanac.
The Chairman of the occasion and the Zanna of Ilorin, Alhaji Lanre Sagaya, called on indigenes of Ilorin both at home and Diaspora to unite, help one another and invest at home to create employment opportunities for the youths who are obsessed with white collar jobs that is not available.
Sagaya who was represented by his Personal Assistant, Alhaji Ibrahim Salman, further urged the IEDPU leadership to continuously appeal and always prevail on the government to create enabling environment to attract investors to the Emirate.
In his sermon, the Guest Speaker at the event, Sheikh Ahmad AbdurRahman harped on the need for the Emir of Ilorin to convene a unity conference for all indigenes of the emirate irrespective of political affiliation and achieve a unity of purpose for the progress and development of the Emirate.
AbdurRahman noted that although the IEDPU has a lot of work to do, it should however not be afraid of the task ahead.
“There is need for unity and the Emir should convene unity conference for all indigenes of the emirate. Almighty Allah has been very gracious to Ilorin with leading scholars and academics across many fields of disciplines. This period should be used to call for the restoration of sound moral and religious values for which Ilorin was known.
“But the violence and looting that followed the recent #EndSARS protest, the rising menace of drug abuse and glaring lack of respect for legal authorities signaled a breakdown of such values”.
In his address, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq asserted that development was always tied to the ability of a community to come together for a common agenda and called for unity and harmony among the people of Ilorin community and the state as a whole.
“As the Guest Speaker has said, the people of Ilorin need to come together under the leadership of the Emir of Ilorin to make Ilorin the envy of all.
“Let all of us bury our hatchet and come together to make Ilorin a better place for all of us.
Let’s work together for peace and progress of Ilorin and our state,” he said.
The governor, who commended the Emir for his fatherly support to every Ilorin son and daughter, also applauded the IEDPU for the proposed ICT hub.
According to him, the project aligns with the ongoing innovation hub project of the present administration to give new skills to young people in the state.
In his remark, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari sued for peace, unity and understanding among sons and daughters of Ilorin to ensure the development and progress of the emirate.
He commended the strides of the governor whom he described as humble, pro-development and disciplined.
Earlier in his address, National President of IEDPU, Othman Ottan rallied the people of the emirate around the agenda of peace, harmony, and development.
He specifically commended the governor for the impact his administration was having on the poor and the vulnerable.
Othman Ottan, however, called for more developmental projects in the Ilorin Emirate and a deeper government-IEDPU relationship.
According to him, IEDPU embarked on the project to change the narrative of begging always to become self sufficient in line with the aspirations of the indigenes of the emirate
While lamenting the lack of Federal College of Education in Kwara which is the only north central state lacking such in the country, Ottan called for the support of the Governor, Senators and House of Representatives members from the state to facilitate it.
He said the incessant sale of land in the state is very regrettable and called on the indigenes to rather adopt the policy of land lease to outright sales which will deprive the indigenes of its rightful place in future and give visitors the opportunity take over the community in future.
The annual conference which was attended by crème de la crème of the Ilorin emirate from all walks of life also had in attendance Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Muhammad Bahsir Solih, Sen Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Justice Haleeman Ayodele Salman and Engr. Kamil Dauda (Chief Launcher), Managing Director, Shelter Setters Aluminum Ltd, Hassan Ibrahim Sani among others.
The Governor who personally donated the sum of N25 million also announced another N25m on behalf of his friends from the business community, Alhaji Aliko Dangote of the Aliko Dangote Group and Abdulsamad Rabiu of the BUA Group to support the project.