By Wahab Oba
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Eid al-Adha is a season of reflection, sacrifice, and submission. It calls to mind the sacred resilience of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and demands loyalty to truth, justice, and divine order. As the faithful gather in worship, our hearts in Ilorin turn, beyond ritual, to the enduring symbol of our spiritual and cultural heritage: the Throne of the Ilorin Emirate.
The Palace is more than a building, it is the soul of Ilorin, the centre of our faith, the echo of our identity, and the compass of our dignity. For generations, it has been the refuge of the wronged, the guardian of balance, and the voice of the voiceless. Yet today, it stands under calculated provocation and quiet storms brewed in political cauldrons. Those who should speak for the throne have chosen silence, even as contempt circles its sacred walls.
These are not idle concerns but deep reflections from one born and bred in Ilorin. The throne is our pride, treated with reverence and held in sacred esteem. But recent developments suggest more than disregard; they reveal a coordinated campaign to diminish the Emir and degrade the institution he represents. Thus, this Eid, we turn to the Defender of His anointed to uphold the dignity of the throne and frustrate the arrogance of temporal power.
O Allah, shield the Emir with divine protection. Surround him with the armor of sufficiency and the amulets of Your safety. Let no ambition, no borrowed authority, no schemer harm what You protect. Admit the throne into the sanctuary of Your secrets, beyond the reach of those who see heritage as a threat and culture as expendable. “Whatever Allah wills; there is no power except by Allah.” Let the intoxicated handlers of power come to terms with this eternal truth.
Ya Sattār, extend the veil of Your protection over the Emir, beyond the envy of courtiers, the rage of politicians, and the deceit of flatterers. They chose division over unity, ego over empathy, and conquest over consensus. Ya Qadīr, raise a wall of divine defiance around the throne to repel those who mistake silence for weakness and loyalty for subservience. Let every arrow of insolence aimed at the Palace return to its archer.
O Allah, on this Eid al-Adha, we do not merely pray. We take a stand. We stand with the Emir, with the legacy of our ancestors, and with the dignity of our people. Strengthen the Emir’s voice with justice, clothe him in the robe of Your mercy, and frustrate those who seek to dethrone tradition in the name of arrogance. As You humbled Pharaoh before Musa (AS), so humble every modern-day Pharaoh scheming against Ilorin’s dignity.
O Allah, grant our Emir clear and decisive victory over his unjustifiable enemies, those who wield temporal power to harass, humiliate, or diminish the sanctity of his seat. Just as You stood with Prophet Musa (AS) in the court of Pharaoh, vindicate the Emir with Your signs. Split every sea of conspiracy before him, and let those who exalt themselves in arrogance be swallowed by the tides of their own deceit. As Pharaoh’s sorcery crumbled before divine truth, let every scheme against the throne collapse in disgrace.
We also remember with gratitude the noble spirit of those leaders and authorities who governed with grace and humility, who deferred to the Palace not out of fear but from a deep understanding of its sanctity. They sought counsel, showed reverence, and preserved harmony by upholding the dignity of the throne. They recognized that the Ilorin Emirate is not a rival to power but a custodian of values. Even after leaving office, their first point of call whenever they visited Ilorin remained the Palace, a testament to their enduring love and reverence for the throne. May Allah reward them for their wisdom and honour, and may their example shine brighter with each passing generation.
Scatter those who provoke the Palace, whether by decree or whisper. Confuse their tongues, dissolve their alliances, and strip their ambitions of honour. We pray also for those who stand with truth beside the throne, the Chief Imam, our scholars, elders, and the faithful. Let their voices never falter. Let the Baloguns and upright titleholders be richly rewarded for their loyalty to the throne.
O Allah, let no tyrant undo what centuries have nurtured. As You clothed Yusuf (AS) in honour after betrayal, clothe our Emir in dignity amid insult. As You cooled the fire for Ibrahim (AS), cool every fire of enmity against the Palace. Grant Ilorin righteous leadership, economic growth, and spiritual peace. Bless the wealthy with humility and the poor with relief. Protect those traveling this season and let no harm touch them.
This Eid, may our sacrifices go beyond festivity. Let them rise as defiant prayers in defense of Ilorin’s soul. The throne is the heart of our Emirate. It must be defended with unity, truth, and unwavering faith. “And Allah will protect you from the people… There is no power nor strength except with Allah.”
#DefendTheCrown #StandWithTheEmir #IlorinHeritage
