Oba Abdulsalami bin Shehu Alimi
The existence of the geographical space called Ilorin predated the 19th century. However, the arrival and settlement of Sheikh Salih Ibn Janta, popularly referred to as Shehu Alimi, brought about the establishment of the Ilorin Emirate, with unprecedented fame and popularity across the various regions, which form what is today called Nigeria and even beyond. Shehu Alimi was a great scholar, teacher and friend of the down-trodden and a spiritual counselor to all and sundry both within and outside Yoruba land of his time. Therefore, the recognition of his spiritual and intellectual supremacy made the populace, who trouped to him to accept his spiritual leadership and the subsequent political leadership of his descendants.
Prior to the arrival of Shehu Alimi, Ilorin had been an abode of scholars of note, who stationed themselves at an area then called Okesuna under the leadership of Sheikh Abdullahi Tahir Solagberu. The city was also the home of the renowned Yoruba generalissimo, Aare Onakakanfo Afonja and several other outstanding personalities who later accepted the intellectual superiority of Shehu Alimi and revered him accordingly.
What is also important and significant here is that, in the early years of the 19″ century, Ilorin Emirate, no doubt, was already a part and parcel of the Sokoto Caliphate and has a lot in common with other emirates. It, nevertheless, had and still has a lot of uniqueness and peculiarities, which make it stand out among other emirates. One of the most unique and enviable features of the Ilorin Emirate is its multi-ethnic composition, which is reflective in its settlement and leadership patterns, under the umbrella of Amir al-Mu’minin. The first emir, Shehu Abdul-Salam, fondly called “Oba Digi Aye”, laid a solid foundation for a strong and all-inclusive administrative system, as shown in the administrative council of the Ilorin Emirate.
The Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, is the 11″Emir of Ilorin. He ascended the throne in 1995. Like most of his colleagues in other emirates, he held the influential title of Ciroma before he became the Emir. He is the son of the 9 Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Muhammad Zulukarnain Gambari, CFR, maternal grandson to the 8″ Emir, Sheikh Abdulkadir Shuaib Bawa, CBE, and a great-grandson to the 7″ Emir, Shuaib Bawa (r. 1915-1919), through the line of Zubair Aiyelabowo III.
list of Emirs of Ilorin till date
Oba Abdulsalami bin Shehu Alimi
Muhammad Shitta bin Shehu Alimi
Zubair bin Abdul-Salami
Alliyu bin Muhammad Shita
Abdul-Salami Mamaloso bin Zubair
Sulyman bin Alliyu, founder of Fa’agba
Shuaib Bawa bin Zubair
Abdul-Kadir bin Shuaib
Zulukarnain bin Muhammad Laofe
Alliyu bin Abdul-Kadir
Alh. (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR
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