The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, North Central Nigeria Engineer Yakubu Danladi Salihu, has assured that the House would ensure passage of relevant laws to institutionalize the annual Ilorin Emirate Grand Durbar.

The Speaker said the enactment of such legislation would be in tandem with the aspirations of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to turn the state to a culture and tourism destination.

Salihu gave the assurance when members of the committee led by its Chairman, Engineer Suleiman Yahaya Alapansanpa, paid him a courtesy visit at the Assembly Complex, Ilorin.

He assured that lawmakers would ensure immediate passage of the relevant legislation including budget for the Durbar, which he noted, has come to stay with wider acceptance.

Salihu noted that the festival has united the people of Ilorin Emirate, the state and the entire nation and commended the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, for reintroducing the festival that has attracted global attention.

According to him, members of the assembly would be physically present and participate in the horse riding, which he said, is the hallmark of the Durbar.

The leader of the House, Barrister Abdulkadir Oba Magaji, commended members of the Durbar Committee for sustaining the annual festival. He pledged that the legislature would accord the festival legislative backing to gain more international recognition.

He added that the names of the committee members have been written in gold as those that stabilized Durbar activities in the Emirate.

Cultural heritage of Ilorin Emirate

Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Engineer Suleiman Yahaya Alapansanpa, who is the Danmasani of Ilorin, recalled that the festival has been in existence since during the era of Sheikh Abdulsalam, albeit low key.

He added that the incumbent Emir of Ilorin raised it to its present standard since 2018 to date.

Alapansanpa, disclosed that the festival showcases the rich culture and tradition of the people of the Ilorin Emirate to the outside world.

According to him, people from UNESCO, Canada and other multinational communities, governments, organizations and individuals have already indicated their interest in participating in this year’s Durbar.

In his remarks, another member of the committee, Prince Modibbo Sulu-Gambari, disclosed that the hiring of horses for the festival and the costumes consume the largest percentage of the money for the festival. He stressed that Durbar is incomplete without the horse riding.

The Secretary, Grand Durbar Committee, Professor Ibrahim Jawondo, explained that the parade of horses during the festival is a reaffirmation of loyalty to the Emirate.

Jawondo added that the demonstration of horsemanship and others remain the highlights of the event celebrating the rich heritage of the Ilorin Emirate.

A retired Grand Kadi of the state, who is a member of the committee, Justice Idris Haroun, offered prayers for the success of the festival and described the lawmakers as humble people.

Members of the Durbar Committee on the courtesy visit were the National President of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressives Union, IEDPU, Alhaji Abdulmumini AbdulMalik; the Serikin Gobir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Gobir; and AIG Adisa Bolanta (rtd) among others.

The Ilorin Emirate Grand Durbar holds annually on the second day of Ileya festival at the forecourt of the Emir of Ilorin’s Palace.