From Heritage to Hostage; The N150m that compromised Ilorin Durbar, Ex CPS Wahab Oba Alleges

A former Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Wahab Oba, has alleged that the Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee received N150 million from the state government under controversial conditions that compromise the cultural integrity of the annual festival.

Oba, in a statement made public on Friday, said the sponsorship was offered on the condition that the Committee disassociates itself from a proposed pavilion project being championed by Senator Saliu Mustapha, the Senator representing Kwara Central.

Citing a “respected member” of the committee who spoke on condition of anonymity, Oba claimed the committee succumbed to pressure after it had raised just N5 million in public donations, prompting it to accept the state government’s conditional funding.

“Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, allegedly angered by the Committee’s neutrality regarding Senator Mustapha’s pavilion project, is said to have pressured them into submission: accept the N150 million sponsorship only if you dance to the government’s tune,” Oba said.

He alleged the Committee was also compelled to publicly declare the governor as the sole sponsor of the 2025 Durbar and to exclude political opponents such as Bukola Saraki, Senator Mustapha, Hon. Moshood Mustapha, and Mallam Lukman Mustapha.

Oba criticised the Committee’s subsequent public statement as scripted by government handlers, adding that the Durbar has been reduced to a political tool instead of a cultural heritage celebration.

The Kwara State Government and the Ilorin Durbar Committee are yet to respond to the allegations.