How late Baba Agba, 10th Emir of Ilorin impacted religious, economic fortunes of Emirate

By Alhaji Dr. Salihu Woru Muhammed
The tenth Emir of Ilorin, Mallam Aliyu Baba Abdulkadir popularly referred to as “Baba Agba” was indeed a great Emir. He was great in life and death. He ruled Ilorin Emirate and indeed Kwara State Council of Chiefs and Obas for three successful years, precisely (1992-1995). He was the district head of “Lanwa/Bode Sa’adu” for thirty three (33) years before he ascended the throne of his forefathers, “Sheik Alimi” of blessed memory. The tenth Emir of Ilorin was the first son of the 8th Emir of Ilorin “Sheu Abdulkadir” who ruled the ancient city of Ilorin and its environs between (1919 -1959).
Mallam Aliyu Abdulkadir’s tenure as the district head of Bode-Sa’adu witnessed a lot of social-political change, culminating in the choice of Bode Sa’adu, as one of his three head office towns as the headquarters of Moro Local Government. Indeed, it is now apparent that Mallam Aliyu actually brought the same good fortune to Ilorin and its environs in large proportion. He was loved and adored by his numerous subject and chiefs in the district for his affection, love and simplicity throughout his tenure.
Perhaps, three years as a period may be too short to use as yardstick for measuring the achievements of a ruler. However, one is delighted to note that spectacular changes have been recorded in the Emirate virtually from the first day of his appointment as the tenth Emir of Ilorin on Wednesday, 4th March, 1992.
Starting from Islamic programme which constituted a significant part in the administration of Ilorin Emirate, the late Emir either commissioned or laid foundation stone for construction of a number of important Jummat mosques throughout his brief reign. The renovation of the magnificent Ilorin Central Mosque in October 1992 was an early point of credit to his good fortune. Earlier, on 21st August of the same year, he single-handedly initiated and accomplished resettlement of an impressive cattle market at Bode-Sa’adu, thereby boosting the economy of the area and beyond. His reign also witnessed the return of both Lower Niger River Basin Authority as well as the establishment of College of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Ilorin. Late Aliyu Abdulkadir was an accomplished Islamic Scholar, God fearing, generous and team player as testified to by notable Islamic clerics such as Imam Imale of Ilorin, Alhaji Abdulhameed Ahmed and a renowned Professor of Islamic Studies, Professor Lanre Badmas and Professor of Political Science, Hassan Saliu among others.
The tenth Emir of Ilorin was indeed a team player because he was fund of embarking on wide consultation not only with his Chiefs, members of Emirate council but with other eminent personalities including his subjects before embarking on matters relating to them since two heads as generally believed are better than one. The tenth Emir was reliable and dependable. In a nutshell, one does not need to look at his wristwatch if he tells you time. The late monarch was simple and patient.
Hence, for over thirty-three (33) years of waiting, he never appeared over-ambitious or desperate nor had any misunderstanding with his predecessor, the 9th Emir of Ilorin of blessed memory, Sheu Zulkarnain Gambari (CFR).
Dear readers, it is quite heartwarming to note that great sensitive issues whether at domestic or national levels, were resolved by the late ruler almost effortlessly. The accounted for the tremendous respect and love he earned for himself by the poor and the affluent alike, particularly the successive heads of government both in Kwara State and Nigeria.
As the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Aliu “Baba Agba” stood so tall. He brought to the stool his pockets of excellence from Bode Sa’adu to the emirship in Ilorin Emirate. He was one of the most compassionate Emirs. He was one of the moderate and most considerate and a great apostle of peace. Alhaji Aliu Baba Agba was one of the quiet but progressive Emirs who was most kind, loving and fatherly emirs in history. He was so pious in everything he did and doesn’t care so much about wealth. He did not see his position as anything neither did he see opulence as honour to fight for position. He was satisfied only when his people are happy. The tenth Emir of Ilorin saw the emirship position has means to serve the people, to devote love and care to their wellbeing and happiness and truly he used the position to advance the cause of humanity and project the goodness and mercy of God in the emirate, universe and even beyond. One of the qualities of the Emir is that he always extended his fatherly love to the non-indigenes and did not give them any reason to consider themselves as mere sojourns in the Emirate, they all had the feeling of the love and care of the great Ilorin Emirate patriarch who was indeed a great man and leader from whom all Kwarans learnt a great lesson on what true greatness is. For him, it was to give love, care and service to others, humility in leadership position, understanding, sympathy, excellence, impartiality and unpolluted Godliness.
Mallam Aliyu Abdukadir was born in 1898. He had the rare privilege and opportunity of been among the very few members of the nobility in Ilorin who received formal western education. He attended elementary school in 1927, later Ilorin Middle School (renamed Provincial Secondary School and now called Government Secondary School, Ilorin), which was the highest education institution in Ilorin at that time.
However, one strutting attribute of the late Emir worth noting here is that, Hausa language being major medium of instruction in his days in school, he was until his death widely acknowledged as one of the most proficient speakers of the language in its original diction. Thus, as if destined to administer people all his life, Mallam Aliyu sojourned as a Veterinary Officer was short-lived, for he served the former Ilorin Native Authority in that capacity for only six years. Indeed, by 1955, he had been selected to attend a local government counsel at the Institute of Administration, Zaria. Shortly on his return, Aliyu was appointed District Head of Lanwa (now Moro Local Government), in succession to his late uncle, Mallam Mohammed Laofe, who had just gone on retirement due to old age.
My dear readers, late Sheu Aliyu Baba Agba no doubt spent a fulfilled life with a record of unprecedented, laudable achievements in all areas of human endeavours. He worked diligently and built on the huge and commendable achievements of his predecessors particularly the 8th and 9th emirs of Ilorin of blessed memory whom we are going to discuss later.
The 9th Emir was an iconic personality whose tenure was transformative for Ilorin. His era witnessed so many giant strides that covered virtually all sectors of the political and economy sectors of the Emirate. As a bold and courageous monarch, he was able to win some measures of respectability for Ilorin. He was also a peace lover as he was able to unite the people of Ilorin through his sighted integrative mechanism. The Monarch in a way set a standard for measuring the impact level of our royal fathers in Nigeria as no one could take Ilorin for granted in the scheme of things during his era. His tough stance on issues at both the state and the federal levels caused some reversal of policies and programmes in favour of the Emirate. He was indeed a great Emir of Ilorin
Finally, at the time of writing this piece, COVID-19 Pandemic was still ravaging the whole World on daily basis. As a Muslim, I feel pain that due to the pandemic, we have not been able to observe congregational prayer at the Eid Praying Ground. But I understood that it is a sacrifice that I must make to prevent the spread of the virus from having a veritable space in my state and beyond or to become a victim of the pandemic.
We should all remember that in the past, both Prophet Mohammed (SAW) and Jesus Christ (AS) made sacrifice in the interest of public safety and humanity. Therefore, the onus lies on me and you to adhere strictly to the safety protocols put in place by the government prevent and halt the spread of the virus.
Salam Eid Mubarak
Alhaji Dr. Salihu Woru Muhammed, Mogaji Nda of Ilorin, Zana of Okuta, Otun Agbakin of Share land.