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The Emir of Ilorin, Sulu Gambari, has defended his decision to prevent the Isese festival in Ilorin, Kwara State, and responded to criticism from Wole Soyinka. The Nobel laureate had criticized the emir for preventing the festival, calling it an assault on civilized conduct.
According to the emir’s spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Arowona, the festival could have led to a crisis in the state if not cancelled. The emir emphasized the importance of proactive measures to prevent conflicts and maintain peaceful co-existence in society. He expressed surprise at Soyinka’s stance, stating that it disregarded the potential consequences of hosting the festival.
The emir explained that the priestess had lived harmoniously in the town until she exceeded her boundaries by planning the festival. He highlighted the risk of reprisal attacks by sympathizers or promoters of the Isese festival in other parts of the country.
The emir received support from the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), a sociocultural group, which stated that his decision would preserve the harmony of the community. The group emphasized that the emir’s position reflects the view of the predominantly Muslim and peace-loving people of Ilorin Emirate.
