Stop selling your lands, lease them instead, IEDPU tells Ilorin indigenes
BY Yunus Suliyat
Leading sociocultural group in Ilorin, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) has urged Ilorin indigenes to stop selling their lands and instead lease them.
The Union’s president, Alhaji AbdulMumini AbdulMalik, made the appeal during a chat with newsmen in Ilorin.
He said, “We are currently educating people about the issue of land selling. Apart from lands required for public use, such as government projects, we are urging people to stop selling lands and instead lease them.
“Leasing will help prevent the issue of selling a single piece of land to multiple buyers, which often leads to chaos and loss of lives.”
AbdulMalik urged Ilorin Emirate residents to cease the illegal practice of selling land to multiple buyers and advised those who have fallen victim to report their grievances to community heads for resolution rather than causing unrest.
…moves to fight drug abuse, says causing insecurity
AbdulMalik also added that it is forming a synergy with other security agencies to collectively address the drug abuse issue in the city’s communities.
He said, “We in the union are forming a synergy with the NDLEA, the Police, and the Army to tackle drug abuse in the Ilorin community because it is contributing to insecurity in the state capital.”
According to him, the IEDPU has been decentralized, with branches established throughout the city where residents can report any anti-social activities in their areas.
AbdulMalik, a retired paramilitary officer, noted that some security concerns in Ilorin stem from the illegal activities of certain land vendors.
He assured that the union is working diligently to address these problems, saying, “We are addressing this issue through a standing security committee in the union, headed by retired Lieutenant Colonel Abdulkareem Adisa Muhammad. We believe he can handle it, given his background as a retired security officer. His Deputy is Alhaji Yusuf Abdullahi, who is currently the head of Kwara State Community Policing.
“We have been visiting various communities across the Emirate to sensitize community leaders and encourage each community to establish a security committee to provide information on security situations in their areas.
“Whenever we receive information, we communicate with the Commissioner of Police. I can assure you that the Commissioner of Police, the Director of DSS, and other security agencies are cooperating with us and acting on the information we provide.
On moral decay, says exposure to other cultures a major cause
Regarding moral decay in Ilorin, the IEDPU President said, “We have been actively involved in addressing this issue. In the past, the union visited various settlements and met with community leaders to discuss youth conduct and security.
“We emphasized the need to instill good morals in the youth and encouraged clerics to promote positive values in their sermons,” he said.
AbdulMalik attributed the rise in moral decay in Ilorin to exposure to other cultures, adding that community leaders are working to improve local morality.
“With the influx of people and cultures into our community, we are bound to be influenced. This is why our Emir, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, reintroduced the annual Durbar festival to counteract the external influences affecting our culture.
“We are pleased that these efforts are yielding positive results. Our youths now prefer participating in the Durbar festival during festive periods rather than engaging in immoral activities such as drinking alcohol,” he said.
We started Durbar to preserve our culture
On the impact of the Durbar festival, AbdulMalik said, “The festival, initiated by our Emir, is part of a cultural revival to curb behaviors among youths trying to emulate other cultures. It brings the community together, promotes social interaction, and boosts the local economy, particularly in tourism and hospitality. It also offers an alternative to un-Islamic and traditional carnivals.”
Speaking about ongoing development activities, Alhaji AbdulMalik praised the State Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, for his efforts and urged him to continue his work.
He commended the Governor for his comprehensive development efforts, particularly in elevating Ilorin’s status as a state capital. He also addressed concerns about the union’s affiliation with political parties, stating, “The union does not align with any political party. We engage with the government of the day to benefit the community, not individuals.”
AbdulMalik addressed concerns about the delay in completing the skills acquisition hub and mosque at the Union National Secretariat, explaining that inflation and limited resources have caused delays. He noted that the mosque’s decking will be completed within one to two weeks and that the skills acquisition hub is nearly finished, with only equipment needed.
“The union focuses on promoting education and skills development. The hub aims to provide training in skills such as ICT and fashion design. The mosque will also serve as a place of learning,” he said.
