Barely three days to the installation of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate, the palace of the Emir of Ilorin has become a beehive of construction activities as the state government races to give the historic complex a facelift ahead of the ceremony.
The rehabilitation exercise, which began earlier this week, has seen workers deployed to different sections of the palace, carrying out interlocking, repainting, drainage clearing and other remedial works ahead of the high-profile turbaning.
The exercise is believed to be part of preparations to give the palace a befitting appearance for the historic occasion, which is expected to attract prominent traditional rulers, political leaders, government officials and other dignitaries to Ilorin.
A correspondent who visited the palace observed that one of the major areas receiving attention is the inner forecourt around the Sultan Muhammadu Abubakar House, where interlocking stones are being laid extensively.
Other sections of the palace are also being repainted, while workers have been seen clearing accumulated debris from drainages and carrying out general environmental rehabilitation around the sprawling complex.
The hurried nature and timing of the intervention have, however, generated reactions among residents and social media users, some of whom questioned why some of the maintenance works were not undertaken much earlier in the AbdulRazaq administration.
Governor AbdulRazaq assumed office in 2019 and is currently in the latter half of his second term.
Some critics argued that the ongoing rehabilitation raises questions about the maintenance of one of the most important traditional institutions in the state, particularly as the intervention is coming just days before an event in which the governor himself is a central figure.
One resident, who asked not to be named, described the timing as curious.
“The palace of the Emir of Ilorin is not just another public place. It is one of the most important cultural and traditional institutions in Kwara State. Why did it have to take the governor’s own turbaning before some of these basic rehabilitation works were considered urgent?”
Another critic accused the government of acting primarily because of the approaching ceremony.
“It appears selfish for the governor to suddenly remember the rehabilitation of the palace at this stage of his administration and just when he is about to be turbaned there. If these works are necessary today, then the question people will naturally ask is why they were not necessary before now.”
The Emir’s Palace occupies a special place in the history and cultural identity of Ilorin and serves as the seat of the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
With the turbaning only days away, work at the palace is proceeding at a rapid pace, with artisans and other workers racing against time to complete the facelift before guests begin arriving for the ceremony.
Governor AbdulRazaq is expected to be formally installed as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate at the palace, an event billed to be one of the major traditional ceremonies in the city in recent years.
Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? For Adverts or report call/WhatsApp us on +2349064433505 or reach us at infokwarareporters@gmail.com
