Emir of Ilorin To Lead Over 500 Horsemen To Mark 2023 Durbar Festival

Over 500 horsemen would be led by the Emir of lIorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaj (Dr) lbrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, to mark this year’s edition of the annual Ilorin Emirate Durbar festival On Thursday June 29,2023.

The Chairman, Ilorin Emirate Durban Committee, Engr Suleiman Oba Yahaya Alapansanpa stated this while briefing newsmen at the Emir’s palace, Ilorin on the 2023 Edition of the festival in Ilorin the Kwara State Capital.

Alapansanpa added that Emir would be
accompanied by the High Chiefs of the Emirate and members of the royal family
as well as honorary title holders

“This years edition would, therefore, be the 5th since its reintroduction and I am
happy to say that we are getting it better organized and more appreciated every
year.

Though Durbar is Durbar but the way we stage our own is unique. This uniqueness stems from our peculiarities. This is because lIorin Emirate is an epitome of unity in the diversity. This is the reason why you witness in our Durbar what is unobtainable in
the Durbar fiesta of the sister Emirates of Northern Nigeria

This year’s edition of the festival would be quite different from what that played out in the past. But its uniqueness would
remain as manifest as possible.

“This year’s Durbar activities shall run for six days with different programme. The first of the events, Endurance Walk, would be done across Ilorin. This event, which was energized by the lIorin Emirate Youth Development Association and intended at sensitizing members of the public to the forthcoming Durbar, was held earlier this morning,
This press conference is the second and final event for today.

Tomorrow, Monday June 26, 2023 shall be for the final of the lIorin Emirate
Durbar football championship, which would be played at the Kwara State
Stadiurn Complex beginning at 3:00pm. The qualifying series of the
championship, which started two weeks ago, witnessed the participations of
various teams from all the traditional wards of the Ernirate.

“The anticipated champion of the championship would go home with a giant trophy that would be presented by the Emir himself on Thursday.
On Tuesday June 27,2023, a prayer session that would be officiated by the
principal Imams and Alfas of llorin Emirate would hold at the Sheikh Alimi Arabic School located within the Emir’s Palace. The prayer is scheduled to begin by 9:00am and it is to ensure that all the events are peacefully held.

The second event for the same day shall be road show with well garrisoned
horses. This shall be done around the city of llorin as from 11:00a.m. It is to let the people have a taste of what they would be served with on the D-Day.
In addition, security operatives would also go around the city to show their
readiness towards the maintenance of peace and tranquility before, during and
after the main program.

Wednesday June 28,2023, which is the main day of the id el Kabir festival.
would witness the Emir leading the people and residents of lIorin Emirate to llorin Eid Praying Ground for the observance of two Rakaat prayers. The prayers shall be lead by the Chief Imam Imale of llorin, Shaykh Abdullahi Abduihameed as the
Chief Imam. Shaykh Dr Muhammad Bashir Saliu. OON, is curently on Hajj.

Immediately after the prayers, the Emir would host the Executive Governor of
Kwara State. Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. CON, for the traditional Sallah homage. The venue shall be at this palace and the time shall be 11:00a.m.

While members of the community would go home to sacrifice various sacrificial
animals as expected, the exhibition of Ilorin Cultural materials would hold at this palace from 12p.m to 6-00p.m.

The Grand Durbar festival would be staged at the forecourt of this ancient palace and across llorin between 9a.m and 4:00pm.

“On Friday June 30, 2023 His Royal Highness, the Emir of lorin. is scheduled to pay the traditional royal visit to His Excellency. the Governor of Kwara State Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRozaq CON, at the Government House, lIoin, by 10-00am. The Emir, who would be accompanied by his chiefs and other dignitaries would also tour around the city before returning to the llorin Central Mosque for a special Jumaat service. The Jumaat prayers would officially bring the festivities to an end.” He said

“His Royal Highness thanks the Governor of Kwara State, who is a son of the soil.
for the support he has been rendering the Committee to organize a befitting
Durbar festival. He particularly appreciated the full participations of the Governor and members of his family in the last edition of the festival. While the Committee notes that his participation, which was widely reported by the media added colour to the event, the Emir expects a repeat of that feat this year.

“The Emir also thanks the people of llorin Emirate and all those who have been
offering one form of support or the other to Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee over
the years. While the Committee has recorded some meaningful supports from within and outside the State, we expect more of such as the date gets closer. As important stakeholders, the Emir wishes to appeal to you to give all the events adequate media coverage. He wants you to focus your reportage on the culture of our people and their desires for the betterment of our society.

Members of the public are also urged to conduct themselves peacefully and maturely throughout the ceremonies.
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