The former Chief of Staff to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has felicitated the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, on his 86th Birthday Anniversary.
This is as Gambari commended the monarch for demonstrating exceptional leadership quality through his peace-building initiatives aimed at advancing the unity and progress of the ancient city of Ilorin and environs.
In a congratulatory message issued from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States, Gambari, a former Minister of External Affairs, expressed delight that Ilorin has taken a new shape for good, courtesy of the development-driven agenda of the foremost traditional ruler.
The Professor of Political Science and International Relations commended the Emir for helping to expand the frontiers of knowledge and good governance in the community, using the instrumentality of his decades of experience in the temple of justice.
“I take this moment to felicitate the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, His Royal Highness, Maimartaba Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, on the commemoration of his 86th Birthday. This is not a mean feat in the earthly journey of a man.
“And it is gratifying to note that our Royal Father has taken it upon himself the development-driven agenda to see that Ilorin is making steady progress among its contemporaries.
“Since his ascension to the throne, the Emir of Ilorin has demonstrated exceptional leadership quality through his peace-building initiative, aimed at advancing unity and the cause of Ilorin township and its environs. For us, this is not surprising, taking cognisance of his ocean of experience in the temple of justice,” he said.
Gambari prayed to the Almighty Allah to increase the monarch in wisdom, good health and longevity of life as he celebrates his new age.
Also, a foremost industrialist, Dr Kamoru Ibitoye Yusuf, while congratulating the Emir on his 86th Birthday Anniversary, noted that the reign of the revered monarch has attracted unprecedented development in the annals of the ancient city.
Dr Yusuf, who is the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kam Holding Limited, said the people of Ilorin Emirate are fortunate to have a cosmopolitan leader as custodian of their customs and traditions.
While identifying the traditional ruler as an exemplary and detribalised Nigerian worthy of emulation, and an exemplary figure, Kam Holding Chief lauded the monarch for serving Almighty Allah and humanity through his series of interventions in community and national development, declaring that the people of Ilorin Emirate and indeed Kwara are happy to have him as their traditional leader.
“It is my utmost delight to congratulate our revered royal father, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR on the celebration of your birthday anniversary. As a leader, you are reputed for being cosmopolitan and urbane. Your Royal Highness, you are acknowledged as a reservoir of knowledge and wisdom that every Nigerian is drawing from.
“I join eminent Nigerians and admirers from all over the globe to wish you a Happy Birthday laced with joy and happiness,” he said.
Dr Yusuf prayed to the Almighty Allah to preserve the monarch in good health and prolong his earthly journey.
On his part, the Founder of the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Alhaji (Chief) Abdulraheem Oladimeji, has celebrated the Emir on his 86th birthday anniversary, noting that Ilorin township is experiencing rapid growth and development under his reign.
Oladimeji, who is the Jagunmolu of Igbomina Land and Arogundade of Lagos, identified the renowned traditional ruler as a pathfinder of peace and stability, particularly for not being discriminatory towards any faith or tribe in his administration of the ancient city.
The Al-Hikmah University proprietor identified the Emir of Ilorin as a development-driven traditional ruler, who has continued to encourage the well-to-do among his subjects to create opportunities for people at the rung of the ladder.
He noted that the respect and reverence Dr Sulu-Gambari enjoys from the people of Ilorin Emirate could not be divorced from the way and manner he has prioritised their welfare and well-being.
Oladimeji, however, beseeched the Almighty Allah to grant the monarch longevity of life and sound health to enable him to preside over the affairs of the Ilorin Emirate for a long time to come.
He said, “I bring my warm felicitations to the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, His Royal Highness, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR on the commemoration of his 86th Birthday Anniversary. I use this opportunity to thank our Emir for being a pathfinder for peace and stability.
“It is glaring that the reign of the Emir of Ilorin has attracted development to Ilorin as a city, thus making it a reference point and shining light among its peers.”
