2026 Hajj Update: Kwara Pilgrims Depart for Saudi Arabia  The first batch of intending pilgrims from Kwara State has successfully departed for the holy city of Mecca, marking the official commencement of the 2026 Hajj exercise for the state. The Kwara State Government on Wednesday flagged off the 2026 Hajj exercise with the successful airlift of the first batch of 374 pilgrims, alongside two NAHCON officials and one state official, to Saudi Arabia. The pilgrims were airlifted from the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport after completing all necessary screening, documentation, and orientation processes coordinated by the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board. The departure signals a smooth start to this year’s pilgrimage, with subsequent batches expected to follow in line with the scheduled airlift plan. Families, officials, and well-wishers were present at the airport to bid farewell, offering prayers for a safe journey and accepted Hajj. The 2026 Hajj exercise is anti...

Ilorin and the Rise of Local Gins: A Concern to Us All By: Ibraheem Olasunkanmi Qoseem Back in the days, one of the things that made Ilorin a coveted and unrivalled city, unique for its holiness, was its strictness and intolerance for filth and its associates. In recent time, we have allowed our quest for civilization to cart away our long-cherished legacy, leaving us with unhealthy circumstances for our wellbeing and sanctity. For many of us, when we travel out of the town or the state and see how cheaply local gin has become on the streets and how it is openly abused by both minors and adults, a sense of nostalgia often creeps in, and we silently pray for our ancestors who once maintained such sanity and discipline. Today, there is a twist in the narrative. What gradually started at the outskirts in different locations across the city, especially around garages, is now becoming unbecomingly visible in the popular areas of the Emirate. Sadly, many among us are becoming ambassadors of ...

 *A Father Cannot Be Enslaved While the Son Chooses His Path* 30th April, 2026 By: JEGEDE ABDULAZEEZ  It is both surprising and disappointing that some elements within the Moro PDP have chosen to drag my father into matters that concern my personal political decisions. Let me state this clearly, a father cannot be enslaved while the son chooses his own path. Political affiliation is a matter of individual conviction, not family bondage. For the better clarification, my father is not a politician but an artisan (musician) who focuses on his craft and personal livelihood. Attempts to label or pressure him politically are unfair, unnecessary, and completely misplaced. Despite of not been a politician, he has dedicated over a decade of his life working tirelessly for the party, contributing his time, energy, and loyalty. Yet, it is evident to all that his sacrifices have not translated into any meaningful or tangible benefit rather than 50K for 11 family men. As for me, I have als...