By Admin
A Kwara-based pro-democracy group, the People’s Voice Advocacy Network (PVAN) has called on the Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee to immediately respond to allegations that it received a N150 million conditional sponsorship offer for this year’s durbar festival.
In a widely circulated opinion essay published last Friday, former Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Wahab Oba, alleged that the Durbar Committee accepted N150 million from the administration of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on the condition that it distance itself from the pavilion project facilitated by Senator Saliu Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central.
Oba, citing an unnamed member of the committee, claimed the arrangement was politically motivated, raising serious concerns about the politicisation of the revered cultural event.
In a statement signed by its Deputy Publicity Secretary, Engr. Abdulraheem Kehinde, PVAN described the allegation as grave and one that casts a shadow over the integrity of the Durbar Committee. The group further expressed concern that the situation, if left unaddressed, could bring the Ilorin Traditional institution into disrepute.
The group said it was deeply worried that despite the gravity of this allegation, the Durbar Committee was yet to issue a public response, warning that the committee’s continued silence on the matter was not only damaging but could erode public trust in it.
It declared that the Committee owes the people of Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State an explanation, noting that the integrity of Ilorin Traditional institution and the cultural sanctity of the Durbar festival are at stake.
“The allegation that the Durbar Committee received N150 million from the state government under controversial conditions is serious and must not be ignored. If true, it casts a dark shadow over the independence of the committee and the neutrality of the Durbar, which is supposed to be a unifying and apolitical celebration of our Emirate’s rich heritage.
“We deliberately waited this long, hoping that the Committee would address this allegation, but we are worried that almost a week later, there has been no clarification from the Committee. Silence, in this context, is not neutral; it is corrosive.
“We, therefore, call on the Alhaji Yahaya Alapansapa-led Committee to, in the interest of transparency, immediately address this allegation. The Committee is urged to clarify whether it indeed received the said N150 Million from the state government and to explain under what terms the money was disbursed,” the group said.
PVAN warned that partisan rivalry should not be injected into an event that should serve as a unifying and apolitical celebration of Ilorin Emirate’s history and identity.
The group also condemned the Committee’s decision to host the 2025 edition of the Durbar festival at the baseball stadium in Adewole, rather than the traditional venue, the forecourt of the Emir’s Palace.
“The Emir’s Palace is not just a location; it is the historical and spiritual heart of the Durbar. Moving the festival to a different location undermines its cultural and symbolic significance and weakens the communal atmosphere the Durbar is known for,” the statement said.
