When Magaji Erubu rocked my emotions
The place was the royal abode of Alhaji Woru Saliu Mohammed, the Magaji Nda of Ilorin, located in the Emir’s palace. The event was the celebration of Magaji Nda’s 20th year on the throne. I was there to honour a man most befitting of honour; a close friend, a confidant and one I am proud to call a brother. He is more. He is an illustrious son of Ilorin and a fearless defender of the Emirate. He is loyalty personified. With Magaji Nda behind you, you do not need to cast a fearful look over your left shoulder. I’m naturally a shy person and try as much as possible to avoid attention especially at public functions. But as it turned out, this was one event where my voice was considered important as well as my presence. I was called out to speak and I managed to mouth few words of tribute to Magaji Nda. However, if being called to speak came as a surprise, a bigger one soon followed. Magaji Erubu, Dr Zubair Bin Nuhu who was among the distinguished guests, turned to the Islamic cleric presiding over the ceremony and asked him to offer a special prayer for me. He regaled the gathering with my uncommon love for the town of Ilorin and my commitment to its growth and wellbeing. I was stunned by this unexpected turn of events. All eyes turned toward me as the Magaji Erubu dipped his hand in his pocket and brought out some money which he handed over to the presiding cleric to boost the special prayer. Promptly, several other guests started offering money to support the special prayer. As the cleric prayed, I looked around and the genuine love and affection that I saw in the eyes beholding me was more than my emotion could take. I fought back tears. I felt humbled by this reciprocity of genuine love and affection. I love this beautiful town and people. Even though I have never mounted the rooftops to proclaim this, my actions and inactions bear eloquent testimony to it. What I lack in blood, I bear inexhaustibly in my heart. Not unexpectedly, I have attracted scorn and abuses from non-Ilorins who will never understand the reason for my selfless and undying love for the Ilorin emirate and the beautiful people. In return, Ilorin has shown me love, the like I have never experienced anywhere else in the world.
In Ilorin I gained political consciousness and development. I also gained fame and financial ascendancy. These are, however, wordly things, which equal vanity. But when Ilorin gave me spiritual salvation, it gave me everything. Today, I can proudly proclaim myself a Muslim anywhere in the world. I have had the rare privilege to serve this town and indeed, the entire state of harmony at government level. To this, I will forever be grateful to my boss, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki. Today, it is no longer what Ilorin can do for me, but what I can give back to the town and the people, and indeed the entire Kwara State. I will, In Shaa Allah spend the rest of my life doing that. Magaji Erubu, like many beautiful others in the emirate and across the state, have been part of this phase of my life. They have given me this rare sense of belonging. May Allah SWT reward them in abundance. Magaji Erubu’s testimony and the reactions it drew, has further strengthen my commitment to the development and growth of this town, the people and the entire state. Long live Ilorin Emirate.
Long live Kwara, the state of harmony.
Adieu Abdulrazak Iyanda
His death came to me as a shock. The harbinger of the devastating news was his younger sister. “Hello, Mr B. I have been trying to reach you. I called your line couple of times, there was no response. I wanted to tell you that daddy is dead.” I did not immediately get the message. “Daddy? Which daddy?”, I asked. “I mean my brother, Razak”. “No! It’s not possible. Brother Razak cannot die. Why should he? He was on facebook contact with me last month…..” I was shouting like one losing his mind. I dropped my phone and collapsed on the chair I was sitting on. About 30 minutes later, I pulled myself together and called back the sister. She explained that her brother died few days after the Sallah. I could not understand how someone close to me like that would die for almost one month and I would not be aware. The pain of Razak’s death was deep. I still cannot bring myself to terms with his passing. I grew up with him in Lagos. His parents and mine were very close and we lived in the same compound. Razak was the first graduate in the compound. And we celebrated every of his academic achievements. He was far older than me. He inspired us the younger ones in the compound to tow the academic path. In the year 2007, during my first hajj, we met in Mecca. He did that pilgrimage, which incidentally was his first, too, with his wife. We stayed in the same hotel in Nakasa area of the holy land. Razak was from one of the royal houses in Omupo. Over ten years back, when the Omupo throne became vacant, he contested for the crown. He contacted me for support and I did all I could, but almighty Allah is the only One Who bestows the crown on whom He wills. His brother and closest friend, Buhari, with whom he fought the royal battle eventually won. Razak went on to become the President, world-wide, of Omupo Descendants Union. May Allah SWT forgive Razak his sins and grant him Aljana fridaus.
Adebimpe’s birthday
In the past 20 years or thereabout, one person that’s been constant in my life aside my family members, is Mas’ud Adebimpe, Bukola Saraki’s Chief Press Secretary as Kwara Governor. He has been my friend, companion, confidant and brother. Our twin-like inseparability is well-known even beyond Kwara and indeed Nigeria. We have shared beautiful moments which have strengthened the bond of our brotherhood. Last Tuesday came with another of such moments when Mas’ud added another year. There was no pomp, no any form of merrymaking. A small prayer of gratitude in the morning, followed by cutting of a cake was all he did to mark the occasion. This is wishing the one I call my brother from another mother, and one many love to call my number six, many happy returns.
Giwa Elekuro’s 4th anniversary
Alhaji Mohammed Jimoh Bello, the 8th Giwa Elekuro of Ilorin marked his fourth year on the throne on 9th September. There may not have been a big celebration to mark his reign( at least I’m not aware of any) because 4 is not a significant number to celebrate, but I chose to celebrate this anniversary because of what the Giwa means to me. My relationship with Alhaji Bello started while he was Permanent Secretary in the Bukola Saraki’s administration and I was the Special Assistant to the governor. We maintained good relationship which continued even after he bowed out of service. This explained why I was part and parcel of his installation as Giwa Elekuro by our father, the Emir of Ilorin. Giwa is a humble and very friendly person. He is loyal to his friends and never allows time, distance or position to affect his relationships. Every Friday morning, for many years now, Giwa never failed to send jumat prayers and messages to me. It does not matter to him whether I responded or not. I pray that Allah SWT continue to bless the reign of Alhaji Bello with peace, tranquility and progress.
