Sardauna Title: AbdulRazaq’s Family, Associates Thank Emir Of Ilorin

The family of the AGF AbdulRazaq, friends and associates of the newly turbaned Sardauna Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, have paid a thank you visit to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu- Gambari, in his palace.

The emir had on Septmber 17, 2026, turbaned the governor as the Sardauna of Ilorin at a ceremony that was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, governors ministers, industrialists and frontline traditional rulers from across the country.

Led by the Mutawali of Ilorin, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq, who was accompanied by Senator Hairat Gwadabe and other siblings of the governor, the delegation departed the Surulere, Ilorin residence of the AbdulRazaqs in a colourful traditional attire.

The convoy moved straight to the palace of the Emir, where they were warmly received.

Amongst the delegation were Magaji Yerimisa compound of the AbdulRazaqs’ family in Idi-Igba, Imam Idi-Oke, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Tijani, members of the state executive council, members of the state House of Assembly led by the House leader, Barr. Oba Abdulkadir Magaji and the Alangua Adewole.

The senior special adviser and counselor to the governor, Alhaji Saadu Salahu, special adviser, Special Duties, Alh AbdulRazaq Jiddah, commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Olorungbebe and his counterpart from the Ministry of Health, Dr Amina El- Imam, Alh Bashir Adigun, Alh Ibrahim were also part of the delegation.

Other attendees include the chairman of the Alliance For Sustainable Kwara, Alh Razaq Lawal, secretary, Alh Abdullahi Olesin, chairman of Gamji Members Association, Alh Tunde Akanbi, Governor’s political adviser, Alh Mashood Alakawa, acting general manager of KWASSIP, Dr AbdulWasiu Tejidini, APC stalwarts; Alh Bibire Ajape Hon. AbdulWahab Issa, Alh Hassan Gegele and Dr Afeez Abolore, chairman, Civil Service Commission, Alhaja Habeebat Yusuf, Kwara State Focal Person for NSIP, Dr Rabiat Alabere and chairman of Kwara Community Policing Initiative, Alh Abdullahi Yusuf.

The delegation expressed appreciation of the entire AbdulRazaq family and by extension the people of Adewole ward of Ilorin West local government area of Kwara State, where the governor hails from, to the Emir for the honour done to their son, Governor AbdulRazaq.

The Emir of Ilorin , Alh Ibrahim Sulu- Gambari, in turn, prayed for a long reign and Allah’s guidance and direction for the new Sardauna, Governor AbdulRazaq, the Mutawali of Ilorin, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq, and the entire people of Ilorin Emirate.

Sulu- Gambari said the tenure of Governor AbdulRazaq who doubles as the chairman, Nigeria’s Governors Forum(NGF) , has brought about significant progress and development to Ilorin Emirate and the state as a whole.

He said the governor’s tenure has been a blessing to his reign, acknowledging that AbdulRazaq’s family has built and sustained a strong bond with the palace.

Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the visit, the Mutawali of Ilorin, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq who expressed gratitude to the Emir for bestowing the Sarduana title on the governor, said the AbdulRazaq family would share in the responsibility to deliver the expectations of the title.

“Alhamdulillahi, we thank God, the Almighty .The essence of this visit today( Tuesday ) is to thank his royal highness, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu- Gambari for the honour bestowed upon his Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq,the governor of Kwara State, the honour of turbaning him with the title of Sardauna of Ilorin. We, the entire family along with entire Ilorin community have come here to pay our respect and to express our gratitude to our highly revered royal father, Dr I Rahim Sulu- Gambari.

“In other words, we are overwhelmed by it and we are grateful. It’s a great honour and responsibility which has been bestowed on him and the entire family and we will all share in the responsibility to deliver the expectations of the title of the Sardauna”, he said . Also speaking, the elder sister of the Sardauna, Senator Khairat Gwadabe, expressed delight about the Emir’ s acknowledgement of the amazing performance of the Sardauna of Ilorin as the governor of Kwara State and Chairman Nigeria’s Governors Forum (NGF) .

“When his royal highness made that comment, he has seen the great things that His Excellency has done in Ilorin, in Kwara and the whole of Nigeria. As the chairman of the Nigeria’s Governors Forum, he has done tremendously well and represented Ilorin and Kwara very well. What he has done in Ilorin is amazing ,what he has done in whole of Kwara , words cannot express. So we thank His Royal Highness. His royal Highness sees and hears all these and that is why he said what he said in the palace and we thank everyone who has come here to thank the Emir on our behalf”.

For his part, Senior adviser and counsellor to the governor, Alh Saadu Salahu said the late Mutawali of Ilorin and the father of the governor, Alh AGF AbdulRazaq( SAN), apart from being the first lawyer in the whole of the Northern Nigeria, played distinctive and unforgettable role in the lives of the citizens of Ilorin.