Saraki Visits Emir, Bereaved Families, Religious and Traditional Leaders in Ilorin

Former Senate President and Waziri Ngeri of Ilorin Emirate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday visited the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, as well as bereaved families, religious leaders and traditional title holders across Ilorin.

Saraki also used the visits to condole with families who recently lost loved ones and congratulate newly appointed religious and traditional leaders.

According to a statement by his Press Officer on Local Matters, Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, Saraki commenced the engagements with a visit to the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, where he paid homage to the monarch and received his prayers and fatherly counsel.

He subsequently visited the Gobir Compound to commiserate with the family of the late Alhaja Awale Gobir, a former Ilorin East PDP Woman Leader.

From there, he proceeded to the family of Sheikh Nimal Maula, where he condoled with them over the death of Sheikh Kamaldeen Salman Olosho.

During the condolence visits, Saraki prayed for the repose of the deceased and urged the bereaved families to find strength in Almighty Allah.

He said: “May Almighty Allah grant the deceased eternal rest and give the family the strength to bear the loss.”

At Banni community, Saraki combined condolence with celebration as he felicitated with the newly installed Imam, Imam Muhammad Hadi, while also commiserating with the family of his predecessor, the late Imam Abdulkareem.

He congratulated Muhammed Awal Baba Olobi on his emergence as the new Magaji Abemi, charging the new religious and traditional leaders to uphold the responsibilities attached to their positions.

Saraki prayed that Allah would grant them “the wisdom and strength to build on the legacies of those who came before them.”

He further stressed the importance of religious and traditional institutions to the wellbeing of communities, saying they remained central to maintaining peace, stability and social cohesion.

His words: “Religious and traditional institutions remain central to the peace, stability and cohesion of our communities. The new leaders must therefore see their positions as a responsibility to the people and build on the good legacies of those who came before them.”

Saraki’s final stop was at Popo-Giwa, Masalasi Gogoro area, where he was received by the head of the family, retired Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Babatunde Kudus.

The visit was to the site where part of the family’s residential building collapsed last month.

Expressing concern over the incident, Saraki called for greater attention to the safety of old residential structures in the area, noting that several family houses in parts of Ilorin were built decades ago.

He said the condition of such structures deserved closer attention to prevent avoidable tragedies.

According to him, “many family houses in that part of Ilorin were built several decades ago and deserved closer attention to prevent avoidable tragedies.”

He also prayed for the repose of those who had lost their lives and asked Allah to comfort and strengthen their families.