By Mike Adeyemi
Ilorin, the Kwara State capital was agog on Friday as the former Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Alhaji Saka Onimago was turbaned the new Shettima of Ilorin.
The traditional event which took place at the Palace of His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, the Emir of Ilorin was attended by crème del crème in the society who converged to witness the foremost traditional practice.
Speaking with our reporter at the Emir Palace, a board member of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Barrister Bamidele Aluko lauded His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu Gambari for extolling the emirate’s tradition and making it more popular.
“I want to first thank the emir for what is doing in the emirate. His Royal Highness is making the tradition more encouraging, more enticing and popular.
“We can compete favourably with our counterparts from the north in terms of traditional values. I wish him long life on the throne,” Aluko prayed.
He described the turbaning of new Shettima of Ilorin as apt and timely, praying he will proffer to His Highness quality counsel as the chief adviser to the emir.
“His new title is apt and well deserved. The emir has made a good choice in him as the Shettima of Ilorin. The stool of Shettima represents chief adviser to the emir and I believed he will bring forth quality counsels before the emir,” the NBC boss said.
In the same vein, the first son of the new Shettima, Alhaji Kola Onimago said the traditional title conferment on his Dad is well deserved and timely, thanking the emir for the honour.
According to him, ‘the chieftaincy title of Shettima of Ilorin on my Dad is a well deserved one, coming at a good time.’
“He has served his community in sundry capacity and the entire Kwara State. The new Shettima is an humble man cum religious. He is a complete gentle man. He likes to help another person and I think that is why he deserves this honour,” Kola said.
He however thank the emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Ilorin for conferring the title of Shettima on his father.
“We appreciate the Emir, we pray Allah will continue to uphold him the more,” the new Shettima’s son prayed.
Similarly, Alh. Umar Adedeji Onimago , a junior brother to the new Shettima was full of joy seeing his elder brother turbaned as new Shettima of Ilorin emirate.
“I’m very happy today. The new Shettima is a pathfinder. He has touched many lives positively in the Onimago’s family. I just want to urge him not to relent in doing what is right and continue to serve humanity. I thank the Emir for deeming him fits for this title,” Adedeji said.
