COVID-19: Emir of Ilorin raises palliative c’ttee, seeks donation

•Emir, Baloguns, others donate N1.7 million

The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari on Thursday constituted the Emirate Palliative Committee.

The committee would be co-headed by a chief of the Ilorin Emirate, Yahaya Alapasanpa and National President of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union, Uthman Baba.

The team is tasked on how to share the items collected from philanthropist to the most poor and vulnerable people living within the Emirate.

According to a statement on the page of the Emir’s personal assistant, Raheem Murtala, the Emir kick started the donation with a million naira. Other donation from the Emirate Council include; all the four Baloguns donated N100,000 each; Magaji Ngari, Galadima Ngari, Baba Isale donated N50,000 each, while the Chief Imam and others donated N100,000.

Meanwhile, the emir has seeked donation from wealthy philanthropist in the Emirate.

A copy of the letter personally signed by the emir and obtained by THE INFORMANT247 reads in part, “As the people and residents of Ilorin Emirate have been reasonably and understandably restricted by current total lockdown in a bid to contain the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus i.e COVID-19 Pandemic, with its attendant effects on the means of livelihood of the people, particularly at this period which preludes the commencement of the sacred month of Ramadan, I have found it extremely necessary and urgent to seek for your kind and generous assistance towards cushioning the effects of the situation on the ordinary and vulnerable people in Ilorin Emirate, many of whom would find it severely difficult to make ends meet at this trying period.

“This assistance may be in cash or in assorted food items to meet the need of the deserving members of our great community.

“Many of these voiceless and weak people for which this assistance is being sought are those who depend solely on their meagre earnings from their daily labour to feed themselves and their families, which has now been made practically impossible since everyone’s movement has been restricted and confined.

“Let me assure you that whatever it might please you to offer for the above-stated purpose would be managed and administered by persons of proven integrity and honour from across the Emirate to ensure that only those who truly deserve the stimulus benefit from the palliative. I will personally superintend over all the arrangements.

“You may wish to know that as overwhelming and challenging as the pandemic is, it is important to say that the community had travelled similar route in the past and Ilorin came out of it stronger and more united than we have ever had been.

“I am, therefore positive, insha Allah, that we shall overcome this contemporary challenge too with your prayers, cooperation and generosity very soon.

“Let me remind ourselves of the words of the Almighty Allah in the Glorious Quran, and the deeds of our Noble Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) in the Hadiths, which enjoin us to offer support to one another at the point of need just as the one we are currently passing through.

“While I know that you are a glowing
patriot, who will not hesitate to offer your much-needed support to ensure that the sufferings of our people are mitigated, I myself have decided to support this noble cause with the sum of One Million Naira (N1m) to immediately kick starts the project. It is my sincere prayers that Allah rewards you in multiple folds as you respond to this clarion call for the love of our people.

“Please extend my humble and passionate request and appeal to other members of your family, friends and well wishers to equally extend their helping hands to us at this period of our need.

“Kindly find below the details of the dedicated bank account into which all donations are to be paid — Bank Name: UBA Account Number: 2148468812; Account Name: ILORIN EMIRATE PALLIATIVE FOR COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

“For donation of Food, Medicals and other palliatives — please call; Engr. Suleiman Yahaya Alapansanpa, Danmasanin Ilorin – 08030995555; or Alhaji Aliyu Usman President, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union – 08033910701 — May Allah bless you and replenish your sources as you extend your hands of generosity to the needy in our community.”