Tinubu Hails Sultan At 20, Says Reign Has Strengthened National Unity

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, for his contributions to national unity, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence as he marks 20 years on the throne.

The President said the Sultan had used his position over the past two decades to promote peace, strengthen relations among Nigerians of different faiths and advance national development.

Tinubu stated this in a congratulatory message issued on Monday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Sultan’s ascension to the throne as the 20th Sultan of Sokoto.

He described the traditional ruler as a moral authority, a bridge between faiths and a steady counsellor to leaders across the country.

According to the President, the Sultan has not only preserved the heritage of the Sokoto Caliphate but also enriched it, making it an instrument for peace, unity and national development.

Tinubu particularly commended the Sultan’s role in promoting religious harmony through his leadership as President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Co-Chairman of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council.

He said the monarch had consistently championed religious tolerance, helping Christians and Muslims find common ground and ensuring that Nigeria’s religious diversity remained a source of strength rather than division.

The President also praised the Sultan’s advocacy for peace in northern Nigeria and across the Sahel, describing his interventions as important to efforts to promote stability.

Tinubu further acknowledged the Sultan’s commitment to education, particularly girl-child education, as well as his support for farmers, public health and initiatives aimed at assisting poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

He said the Sultan’s wisdom, composure during moments of tension and unwavering commitment to Nigeria had distinguished his 20-year reign.

The President also expressed appreciation for his personal relationship with the monarch, describing his counsel as honest, patriotic and consistently guided by Nigeria’s best interests.

“I value our friendship deeply. Your counsel has been honest, patriotic, and always in Nigeria’s best interest. Thank you for your support and your prayers for our nation,” Tinubu said.

While congratulating the Sultan on the milestone, the President prayed that Almighty Allah would continue to grant him good health, long life and renewed wisdom.

He expressed hope that the Sultan’s reign would continue to bring peace to Sokoto, unity to Nigeria and honour to the Muslim Ummah.

Sultan Marks 20 Years On Throne, Unveils Book On Dan Fodio’s Legacy In Sokoto

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Monday marked 20 years on the throne with the unveiling of a book on the legacy of Shaykh Usman Dan Fodio in Sokoto.

The book, titled “Shaykh Uthman Bin Fodio and His Flagbearers: Their Contributions to the Islamic Revivalist Movement”, was unveiled at the International Conference Centre, K’asawra, Sokoto, as part of activities to commemorate the monarch’s two decades of leadership.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the Sultan, who ascended the throne on 2 November 2006 following the death of his brother, Sultan Maccido, wrote the foreword to the book, which examines the contributions of the 19th-century Islamic reformer and the scholars associated with his movement.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Sultan described the book as a timely documentation of the intellectual and spiritual heritage of the Sokoto Caliphate, urging scholars to preserve the legacy of Dan Fodio for future generations.

The book unveiling climaxed a series of anniversary activities that commenced on Friday, 30 October, with special Islamic preaching sessions at the Abu Huraira Mosque in the Polo Club area of Sokoto, where 11 prominent Islamic scholars delivered sermons on peace, unity and national development.

As part of the anniversary, the Sultan on Sunday turbaned 13 prominent Nigerians with traditional titles in recognition of their contributions to society and the Sultanate.

Those turbaned included former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who was conferred with the title of Kuliyan Sokoto, veteran broadcaster, Chief Peter Igho, as Kakakin Daular Usmaniyya, and Hon. Arc Ibrahim Almustapha Aliyu, member representing Wurno/Rabah Federal Constituency, as Bauran Sokoto.

Others were Alhaji Murtala Abdulkadir Dan’Iya as Dallatun Sokoto, while two biological sons of the Sultan, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq and Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, were turbaned as Sarkin Dawakin Tsakar Gida and Fagacin Sokoto, respectively.

The ceremony, held at the Sultan’s palace, attracted traditional rulers, senior government officials, members of the National Assembly, Islamic scholars, and thousands of well-wishers.

The anniversary was also marked with humanitarian interventions, including financial assistance for the release of 56 inmates at the Sokoto Correctional Facility and support for over 500 hospital patients across Sokoto State.

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the Sultan on his 20th anniversary, describing him as a moral authority, a bridge between faiths and a voice of moderation.

In a congratulatory message issued by the State House on Monday, President Tinubu praised the Sultan for two decades of preserving the Sokoto Caliphate’s heritage and promoting peace, unity and tolerance in the country.

The Sultan, born on 24 August 1956, is the longest-serving Sultan of this century and the third-longest-reigning Sultan in the history of the Sultanate.