By Abubakar Imam
Last Tuesday (February 4, 2025), the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, His Royal Highesss, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR; through his hardworking Spokesman and Shettima of Okuta, Mallam AbdulAzeez Arowona, announced the appointment of one of the community’s high-flying frontliners, Alhaji Yakubu Garba Gobir, as the new Sarkin Gobir of Ilorin.
This appointment was sequel to the popular choice of Alhaji Yakubu Gobir, who is also the Madawaki of Ilorin and Wazirin Kasar Hausa, by the entire Gobir family of Ilorin and the presentation of his candidature to the Emir.
The respected monarch, who is also the Chancellor of Muhammadu Kamalud-Deen University, Ilorin and Bayero University, Kano, consequently endorsed the former gubernatorial candidate as the 10th Sarkin Gobir of Ilorin Emirate. The announcement was made at a simple but solemn ceremony held in the Emir’s ancient palace and in the presence of his family members and other stakeholders.
With the appointment, the renowned international businessman, community development enthusiast, and successful Pharmacist succeeds his cousin, the late Captain Mohammed Ahmed Yusuf-Gobir. Captain Yusuf-Gobir, a son of the war-time Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Yusuf Amuda Gobir, OFR; held the position for over one and half decades from 2009-2024.
The late Sarkin Gobir was adjudged by both the members of the family and others as a fair and responsible leader! He was a perfect gentleman!!
The title of Sarkin Gobir is one of the most respected hereditary traditional titles in Ilorin; with a very rich and exciting history.
Sarkin Gobir is one of the sub-chiefs under the headship of the Balogun Gambari of Ilorin. The ancestral home of the Sarkin Gobir is sandwiched by those of the Balogun Gambari and Imam Gambari of Ilorin. It is also located opposite the residence of the Sarkin Gambari of Ilorin. All are in the area known as Gambari in the Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The holder of the title of Sarkin Gobir is the traditional head of the entire Gobir family. He is also the head of the Gobir clan as well as all indigenes and residents of Ilorin whose ancestry can be traced to the historic kingdom of Gobir in the present-day Sokoto State.
Gobir itself is a popular tribe whose existence and popularity predated the historic Jihad of Shaykh Usman Danfodiyo, the founder of Sokoto caliphate. Its history dates back to the pre-Islamic Arabia and through migration across the mediterranean ocean to the present-day Niger Republic. The group, through wars and migration, eventually found its way into Nigeria and especially in the contemporary Sokoto State from where the ancestors of the new Sarkin Gobir of Ilorin came down to Ilorin.
The people of Gobir, who are called Gobirawa, are said to be among the first sets of Hausa-speaking groups known to the Yoruba. They are courageous and industrious people. They are also fearless warriors.
Many of them, led by Sarkin Gobir Soba (who was a direct descendant of Sarkin Gobir Yunfa and Sarkin Gobir Nafata), as a result of the rampaging effects of the Jihad launched by Shaykh Usman Danfodiyo, migrated down south. They served as farmers, soldiers, and hunters across Yorubaland and Nupeland and eventually found a home in Ilorin. The Gobirawa continued to thrive in Ilorin, leading to a close relationship with members of other groups.
The fact that the Gobirs came into Ilorin in an organised manner enhanced their settlement and positive interactions with others. This also assisted them in maintaining their corporate identity within the Emirate.
Yours sincerely is one of the thousands of people of Ilorin who were not surprised with the appointment of Alhaji Yakubu Garba Gobir as the new Sarkin Gobir. This is because the new Sarki is a lover of history, traditions, and heritage. He is also someone who has paid his dues.
Alhaji Yakubu Gobir, despite his national and international engagements, has presented himself as someone who would continue from where his illustrious progenitors stopped.
His ancestors were never satisfied with their personal successes. They took leadership positions at various levels and succeeded greatly at them.
Those who are familiar with the biography of his illustrious grandfather, Mallam Muhammadu Ajeigbe Gobir, wouldn’t be surprised with the disposition of Alhaji Yakubu Gobir to community development. Those who are also aware of the life and times of his late father, Ambassador Abubakar Garba Gobir, would also be convinced that he is trekking a familiar route. The same would apply to those who are conversant with the careers of his uncles, particularly Alhaji Yusuf Amuda Gobir, OFR, and Alhaji Yakubu Amori Gobir as well as Alhaji Amuda Ahmadu Gobir. A study of their careers would convince all that community service must be in the DNA of the Gobirs.
The case of the new Sarkin Gobir is somehow different from those of the three brothers who all left the public service as Permanent Secretaries at various times. None of the trio took any traditional title!
It appears that the new Sarkin Gobir is following the footsteps of his illustrious grandfather, who combined a hereditary title with an honourary one. He was the first Ilorin indigene that would be so privileged!!
Mallam Muhammadu Ajeigbe Gobir, who was one of the two sons of Ilorin to receive secondary school education, combined the title of Sarkin Gobir of Ilorin with that of the Waziri of Ilorin. He was, in fact, the first Waziri of Ilorin, and he admirably held the two positions and creditably discharged the responsibilities expected of him.
But the new Sarkin Gobir seems to have added additional steps to what his grandfather achieved 70 years ago when he was appointed as the first Waziri of Ilorin. This was in addition to his hereditary title of Sarkin Gobir.
This is because Alhaji Yakubu Gobir earned an honourary title from home (Madawaki of Ilorin) in addition to Wazirin Kasar Hausa from far away Daura in Katsina State, which he had earlier bagged. These two titles were crowned with the hereditary title of Sarkin Gobir. What a pleasure! What a feat!! What a greatness!!!
The illustrious predecessors of the new Sarkin Gobir as contained in a work titled, “Transformations of Gobir Kingdom”, published by the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and made available to me by a former Director of the Centre for Ilorin Studies (CILS) and current Director of the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies (CPSS), University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ibrahim Jawondo, are; Alfa Salihu Masalaci,the progenitor of the new Sarkin Gobir; Alfa Abubakar Salihu, Alfa Suleiman Babapupa and Alfa Issa Leramon, who was the great grandfather of the new Sarkin Gobir, as well as Alfa Abdulkadir. The date of the reigns of these leaders cannot be ascertained.
Other past Sarkin Gobir as contained in the work earlier mentioned are; Mallam Muhammadu Ajeigbe Gobir (1954-1960), Alhaji Suleiman Issa; who succeeded his brother Mallam Muhammadu Ajeigbe Gobir; (1960-1996), and Alhaji Dauda Bababudo, who held the position from 1996 to 2009; then Captain Mohammed Ahmed Yusuf-Gobir, who was the holder of the title from 2009 to 2024.
The new Sarkin Gobir was born in London, United Kingdom, on October 19, 1965. This was exactly a year before the birth of another pride of the Gobir dynasty and Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Ilorin and Coordinator of the newly formed Ilorin Women Association (IWA), Prof. Aishatu Ahmed Gobir. His mother was Alhaja Belawu Gobir, who hailed from Ile Olugbon, Adeta, Ilorin.
As an infant, young Yakubu, who was also named Olayiwola, was raised by the first Turaki of Ilorin, Alhaji Sanni Olanrewaju Buraimo Okin, MFR, OFR, MBE and his first wife, Alhaja Munirat Segilola Okin. The two, who were the first parents he knew, were also the foster parents of his mother, Alhaja Belawu Gobir.
The new Sarkin Gobir attended American International School, Lome, Togo; New Delhi, India; and Stockholm, Sweden. It was at Cheltenham College, England, that he completed his General Certificate of Education with flying colours.
He then proceeded to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, from where he graduated with a degree in Pharmacy in 1985. He is also a graduate of Insitut European d’ Administration des Affaires (INSEAD), Fountainbleau, France, and Harvard Business School in Boston, USA.
After spending a number of years working for Pfizer and Hoechst in Nigeria, he started his own marketing and distribution company, Smart Mark Limited. The company opened up the Nigerian market for a number of multinationals: including Unilever, Swatch, Sara Lee, Wella, L’Oreal, Nike, Levi’s, and Tommy Hilfiger. His company has in its employ over 500 people.
The new Sarkin Gobir has a passion for community development. He is the founder of the famous and impactful ‘The Gobir Organisation Foundation’. The organisation is focused on high impact social investment programmes.
This patriot would continue to be celebrated for committing the sum of One Hundred (₦100,000,000:00) Million Naira to the comprehensive renovation of the Okesuna Primary School, Ilorin, a few years back. The school not only produced his grandfather, his father, and uncles as well as several members of his family and indigenes of Ilorin; but it is also the oldest primary educational institution in Ilorin.
Alhaji Gobir, who has also supported the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) and other sociocultural organisations in a number of ways in the last one decade, is currently shouldering the completion of the ancient Gambari Mosque in Ilorin.
To the Mosque project, he has committed more than Two Hundred (₦200,000,000:00) Million Naira. The project would definitely consume more of the hard-earned resources of this unassuming philanthropist before its eventual completion.
Alhaji Gobir, who speaks English, French, Hausa, and Yoruba fluently, is happily married to Hajiya Bilikisu Gobir. His wife hails from Zaria, Kaduna State. The marriage is blessed with outstanding children who are also doing very well in their various positions.
The new Sarkin Gobir has his duties cut out. He is expected to serve as a rallying figure for the entire Gobir dynasty. He is also expected to extend continuous support to the progress of Ilorin more than he has been doing.
His dynasty is renowned for patriotism. This must be rekindled and promoted as done by his progenitors.
Though, Alhaji Gobir is unassuming, but he has the means. He has the contact as he also has the mind to achieve the essence of his appointment far and beyond expectations.
He is equally blessed with other notable members of the Gobir family who continue to make significant contributions to the development of our community and humanity.
These include his aunt Alhaja Segi Adama Ebo Daniyan, a dedicated community leader; his uncle, Alhaji Saad Olarongbe Gobir, a distinguished academic and scholar and father of Hajiya Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, who currently serves as the Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development under His Excellency, the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON; Hajiya Rabi Ayo Ishola, a retired Director of the Federal Ministry of Education; Alh. Mohammed Baba Gobir, a prominent businessman; Alhaji Ahmed Ladan Gobir, the President and Chairman of the Council, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria and former Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Industry & Co-operatives, and currently a topnotch of the Dangote Group.
Others include Mr Idris Olanrewaju Gobir, a legal practitioner, who is based in London, United Kingdom; Mallam Nasiru Gobir, a prominent businessman; and Alh Moshood Gobir, who is a Special Assistant on Security to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq,CON; Hajiya Sa’adatu Belgore a former Executive Director, Finance, Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and beloved wife of Dr Shuaib Lamido Belgore, OON, a serving Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service and Prof. Zainab Gobir, the Executive Director, Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The last two ladies are daughters of the late Engr Mohammed Issa Gobir and Princess Salamatu Olawepo Gobir, a younger sister of the incumbent Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, amongst several others.
I sincerely congratulate Alhaji Yakubu Gobir on his new appointment as the 10th Sarkin Gobir of Ilorin Emirate. I wish him long life, sound health, and every other thing he would need to reign peacefully and rewardingly.
Imam is National Secretary, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union.
