Seyi Gesinde
The ancient city of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, was filled up with happiness Friday morning as the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, arrived for the turbanning of Dr Alimi Abdulrazaq as the Mutawali of Ilorin by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
As the presidential jet of the Vice President and his entourage landed at Ilorin International Airport, the jubilant Ilorin dwellers, old and young, in their multitude, rolled out drums to line up the streets and roads leading to the Emir’s palace, chanting different songs, dancing, waving and raising banners cum posters with different inscriptions such as “We Want Osinbajo 2023.”
The hailing of Osinbajo as Nigerians’ preferred presidential choice for 2023 rented the air, with the chorused shouts of “Osinbajo is our President,” as the city was thrown into carnival of all sorts — Ilorin was literally lit up in excitement, with people soaking in the fun and gaiety.
In the well attended event, the Vice President Osinbajo led the roll call of eminent Nigerians and other categories of “A listed” guests including diplomatic figures, to honour a business mogul and legal luminary, Dr AbdulRazaq, as he was turbaned the Mutawalli (Chancellor of Exchequer or Minister of finance) of Ilorin Emirate.
Dr Alimi, the son of the soil, had been highly favoured for the office, as he succeeded his late father, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorinso AbdulRazaq, (SAN, OFR), the celebrated first lawyer from Northern Nigeria, former, Chairman Nigerian Body of Benchers and the longest serving Mutawalli of Ilorin who died in 2020. His late billionaire father was also the President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
The holders of the office carrying “Mutawali” title being one the most exalted in hierarchies in the courts of the northern Emirates are exalted palace chiefs, and a few of such title holders include Mutawalis which include the late President Musa Yar Adua of Katsina Emirate; the Mutawallin Gwandu, Governor Bagudu of Kebbi; the Mutawalin Sokoto, Governor Aminu Tambuwal; and Mutawalin Borno, Kashim Imam, who is Chairman of TetFund.
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For Dr Alimi, it was said that the traditional significance of the Mutawali title perfectly depicts his eminent standing “as a legal scholar who was not only the first holder of PhD in law from the Emirate but is also known for his exemplary conduct, philanthropy and sterling contributions to socio-political development of the Emirate and nation in general.”
Alimi, who is the elder brother to the incumbent Governor of Kwara State AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq, is a shrewd businessman, accomplished lawyer, administrator and notable lover of education. He is the founder of the prestigious Bridge College, Ikoyi, Lagos and Managing Partner of AbdulRazaq (SAN) & Co.
Alimi received his tertiary education at Ahmadu Bello University, where he earned his law degree, and is an alumnus of University of Hull in UK, where he did his LLM and PhD in Law, both between 1982 and 1986, while he is also an alumni laureate of the Hull University.
Famous for his PhD thesis on Human Rights Protection in Africa, a groundbreaking scholarly work that formed the framework for the establishment of the African Court of Human Rights, Alimi sits on the board of several blue chip companies, which include the First Bank Holdco Plc.
Alimi, who has also had a stint in politics, in 1999 emerged the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State.
He is married to Mrs Kafayat Foluke AbdulRazaq, who was first female Commissioner of Finance in Lagos State, a former non-executive director of Julius Berger Plc, and is currently Group Vice Chairman of Transcorp Nigeria Plc.
