Anger as Ilorin Durbar moves from historic palace to governor’s political base

• The relocation of the 2025 Ilorin Emirate Durbar Festival from the historical Emir’s Palace to the Kwara Baseball Court successful Adewole has triggered nationalist outrage
• Prominent voices, including ex-Speaker Professor Ali Ahmad and influencer Amonpe Amuntutu, person criticized the move
• The Durbar Committee insists the displacement is for logistical reasons, not politics, and maintains the lawsuit remains rooted successful Ilorin’s heritage

Residents of Ilorin are expressing outrage implicit the determination to relocate the 2025 Ilorin Emirate Durbar Festival from the accepted Emir’s Palace to the Kwara Baseball Court successful Adewole, Ilorin, the governmental ward of the authorities governor.

A sojourn by Legit.ng to the caller venue connected Wednesday showed ongoing renovations being carried retired by the Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee to marque the determination suitable for the expansive taste celebration.

The determination to relocate the humanities solemnisation has been met with backlash.
Source: Instagram

The tract has 2 pavilions(with nary less than 3,000 sitting capableness together) and different ongoing upgrades to accommodate the assemblage expected astatine the festival.

Durbar's venue relocation condemned

The displacement from the iconic Ojude Oba (Emir’s Palace) to a government-associated country has sparked a question of criticisms from residents, taste enthusiasts, and salient figures successful the community.

Speaking to Legit.ng astatine the Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, erstwhile Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly and law lawyer, Professor Ali Ahmad, lamented the change.

“Normally we utilized to bash Durbar astatine Ojude Oba but this twelvemonth immoderate radical called the committee that they should determination the venue to different spot and they did, which is precise bad,” helium said. “Those radical that are down this are nary much astir successful the city. If you look astatine it, they won't travel to the Eid oregon Durbar. They've scattered everything and tally away. We were expected to cheque these radical precise good earlier listening to them due to the fact that they volition inactive repetition this successful 2027,” helium added portion addressing newsmen.

Social media has besides been ablaze with criticism. Amonpe Amuntutu, a well-known Ilorin practice advocator and influencer, shared her vexation successful a powerfully worded post.

“As a girl of Ilorin Emirate and a pioneer of Ilorin heritage, culture, and tradition, I constitute based connected Durbar 2025,” she said“Durbar Committee and you concur to this? Holding Durbar successful Adewole? I americium not conscionable disappointed but shy and anemic to accidental Ilorin maintains their practice and person prestige and respect for the Emir.”

She continued:

“What bash we telephone this? Abolishment of civilization and tradition? A slap connected the look of the Emir? No substance the quality oregon differences, determination are things you don't bash to debar aboriginal antagonistic reflections connected our name. Any Ilorite who feels it's good to clasp Durbar successful Adewole is simply a hypocrite.”

Political interference suspected successful relocation move

The determination to clasp the festival astatine the Baseball Court has besides fueled speculations astir governmental interference, with immoderate residents alleging that the venue was chosen owed to the sponsorship of the lawsuit by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

In response, the Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee denied claims that it received N150 cardinal from the Kwara State Government to big the festival. Committee Chairman, Engineer Suleiman Yahaya Alapasanpa, and Secretary, Professor Ibrahim Jawondo, held a property briefing successful Ilorin wherever they dismissed the allegations arsenic “baseless and a figment of imagination.”

“The Durbar is for the Emir, not politicians,” said Alapasanpa.“Anyone tin spouse with us, but determination is nary unit oregon obligation. We person repeatedly clarified this, the event’s readying and backing are autonomous.”

He added:

“We person survived 18 yearly Durbar done partnerships. We ne'er pleaded for oregon relied connected authorities sponsorship due to the fact that authorities comes; authorities goes.”

The committee explained that the relocation was not politically motivated, but alternatively owed to the limitations of the Emir’s Palace.

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has been suspected of attempting to interfere successful royal affairs. Photo: FB/Kwara authorities government
Source: Twitter

“We’re not taking Durbar retired of the palace entirely. Other activities similar escaped aesculapian examinations and artefacts exhibitions by section artisans volition inactive clasp successful the palace,” Alapasanpa said. “But for the main procession, the palace has go inadequate, having lone 1 introduction constituent compared to 7 astatine the Baseball Park. The caller venue besides offers amended parking and information conditions.”

The committee besides traced the Durbar’s root to 1830, pursuing Ilorin’s triumph implicit the Old Oyo Empire and Baruba warriors. According to Alapasanpa, the festival was ne'er astir conquest but a awesome of bid and unity among Ilorin’s multiethnic communities.

“This year, the Emir is expected to thrust done the historical way from Ita Ogunbo to Ita Kudimo earlier heading to the Baseball Park,” helium revealed.“The 2025 celebration, themed ‘Unity successful Diversity – Ilorin’s Timeless Gift’, volition item our bequest of peaceful coexistence.”

Amid the controversy, attraction has besides turned to the uncompleted pavilion task astatine the Emir’s Palace, which was initiated by Kwara Central Senator, Saliu Mustapha.

Senior Special Assistant connected Communications to the Governor, Ibraheem Abdullateef Akolu, shared the committee’s stance connected the matter, noting that the Senator introduced the pavilion program without consulting them.

“The committee was already discussing with the authorities authorities and stakeholders earlier the legislator rushed to contiguous his version,” Akolu said.“His plan differed from the committee’s archetypal plan. The Durbar Committee supports the government's determination to enforce the instrumentality and information protocols, and the Emir, a retired judge, is not backing illegality.”

Akolu besides emphasized that the Governor is the biggest sponsor of the Durbar Festival successful the past six years, and the committee has called for unity and collaboration from each Ilorin indigenes.

Bayero cancels planned Durbar

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, had called disconnected his scheduled Eid-el-Fitr Durbar, citing information proposal and consultations with cardinal stakeholders.

The decision, announced successful a late-night video connection connected Wednesday, follows weeks of hostility surrounding competing Durbar plans betwixt Bayero and the reinstated 16th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II.

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Source: Legit.ng