Sulu-Gambari Pavilion:Barrister Abdulkareem Alabi Makes Salient Clarification.
Executive Assistant to Senator Saliu Mustapha, Barr. Abdulkareem Alabi, has shed light on the controversy surrounding the construction of the Sulu-Gambari Ultra-Modern Pavilion, clarifying that the project was neither a political stunt nor a violation of due process.
Speaking on live radio program on the matter, Barr. Alabi explained that his intention was not to respond to critics but to educate the public on the facts. He revealed that years ago, Senator Mustapha had expressed concern about the recurring cost of renting tents annually for the Ilorin Durbar and sought a more sustainable solution.
The program was monitored by Daily Hibiscus News on Wednesday morning
“Senator Saliu Mustapha invited me and Mr. George, the owner of Deluxe Tents, to discuss the possibility of constructing a permanent pavilion.
He believed it would be more economical and would enhance the beauty of the Emir’s Palace, much like the Ojude Oba festival ground in Ogun State,” Alabi explained.
He further stated that the Durbar Committee later unveiled its own plans for the event, which aligned with Senator Mustapha’s vision to beautify the palace environment and enrich cultural heritage in Ilorin.
Rather than funding the project personally, the senator leveraged his position as the representative of Kwara Central to include the pavilion in the 2024 federal budget. “Anyone can fact-check this in the approved 2024 budget document, page 421, ERP 21250846,” he said.
Alabi dismissed claims that the project appeared only in the 2025 budget, describing such assertions as “ignorant or deliberately misleading.
He emphasized that, as a legislator, Senator Mustapha’s role was to facilitate projects—not execute or implement them.
He also addressed the incident involving the stoppage of the project by the Kwara Geographic Information Service (KW-GIS), saying the senator chose not to escalate the matter to avoid unnecessary political or traditional tensions.
Senator Mustapha told us he didn’t want to drag the Emir into any controversy,” he added.
On the matter of land ownership and approvals, Alabi disclosed that the site of the project is the ancestral house of Sheikh Solihu Alimi and is under the Emir’s authority.
He also disclosed that A formal letter, accompanied by the project design, was reportedly sent by the Emir to KW-GIS on March 3, 2025, seeking approval. “Since then, we have not received any response from GIS,” Alabi noted.
