• Why I gave Gov AbdulRazaq Sardauna title — Emir
• Says late AGF AbdulRazaq was a father figure to him
From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The family of Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, alongside members of the Ilorin community, government officials and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday paid a thank-you visit to the Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, over the Governor’s recent turbaning as the Sardauna of Ilorin.
The delegation, led by the Mutawali of Ilorin and the Governor’s elder brother, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq, included Alangua Adewole; Alhaji Yusuf Yakubu; the Governor’s elder sister, Senator Khairat AbdulRazaq Gwadabe, a former First Lady of Kwara State; his younger sister, Hajia Aisha Mohammed Lawal; Dr Funsho AbdulRazaq; members of the Kwara State House of Assembly led by the House Leader, Barrister Oba Magaji; Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Jiddah; and other party elders.
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Speaking at the Emir’s Palace, Dr Sulu-Gambari, expressed delight at the large turnout, saying the conferment of another traditional title on a member of the AbdulRazaq family, was his way of showing gratitude to the family’s late patriarch and matriarch for their contributions to his life and the royal family.
The Emir said the titles of Mutawali and Sardauna of Ilorin, which he conferred on Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq and Governor AbdulRazaq respectively, were in appreciation of the good deeds of their parents and the goodwill the family had continued to demonstrate.
Describing the late Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Alhaji AbdulGaniyu AbdulRazaq, SAN, father of the Governor, as one of his two father figures, the monarch said the AbdulRazaq family had maintained a longstanding relationship with the Ilorin royal family.
“One of my two father figures is the late Mutawali of Ilorin, the Governor’s father. He stood by the family after the death of our father and his friend. Talking about Mama, the Governor’s mother, she was the one who chaired the organising committee for my coronation as Ciroma of Ilorin and my wedding ceremony, which we held in 1984.
“For this and other reasons, I am the one who is indebted to show your family gratitude,” the Emir said.
Dr Sulu-Gambari described Governor AbdulRazaq as a “lucky and befitting leader”, saying his administration had answered the people’s prayers for good fortune.
“His coming on board has answered our earnest prayers for good fortune. He has turned around Ilorin and indeed the entire Kwara. This is an indisputable fact,” he said.
The monarch also commended the Governor’s leadership qualities and described him as a good ambassador of the Ilorin Emirate.
He prayed Allah to continue to grant Governor AbdulRazaq the strength and wisdom needed to succeed in office, including in his capacity as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the visit, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq, said the family was overwhelmed by the honour bestowed on the Governor and expressed appreciation to the Emir.
He promised that the Governor and the entire family would not “shirk the responsibility to deliver the expectations of the honour”.
Hajia Aisha Lawal, also thanked the Emir, saying Governor AbdulRazaq deserved the Sardauna title in recognition of his contributions to the development of the Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State.
The Senior Adviser and Counsellor to the Governor and Chairman of the Central Planning and Coordination Committee for the turbaning ceremony, Alhaji Saadu Salau, said the Emir remained proud of the administration’s achievements and described Governor AbdulRazaq as a role model.
