Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar; Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar and Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan-Ogunwusi have extolled the virtues of the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, as a father to all and solicited prayers for leaders to succeed.
Abdulsalami who delivered the message of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) at a ceremony to mark the Etsu Nupe’s 20 years on the throne and 71st birthday said the royal father had attracted development to Nupe land.
He described him as a bridge builder, peacemaker and beacon of hope for less privileged Nigerians.
The former Nigeria leader said the 20 years of Etsu Nupe on the throne had witnessed peace among all Nigerians in the area irrespective of tribal, religious and ethnic differences.
“He is a humble man to the core who has the interest of Nigeria at heart. I am praying for sound health for him and longevity,” he said.
Similarly, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, asked everyone to pray for leaders at all levels for them to be diligent in leading the people right.
On the Etsu Nupe, the sultan said; “The Etsu Nupe and myself are both 20 years on our thrones. He is God-sent to salvage the people. So, I am urging all Nupes both at home and in the diaspora to support him.”
The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan-Ogunwusi, also advised Nigerians to pray for President Bola Tinubu and other leaders to enable to enable them succeed in delivering the needed development for the people and country.
Governor of Niger State Mohammed Umaru Bago called on traditional rulers in the state and other parts of the country to always guide leaders aright so that they would not go astray.
He promised to listen to the wise counsel of traditional rulers in the state and prayed for the Etsu Nupe to sustain the tempo of piety, patriotism and philanthropy.
The Etsu in his speech appealed to Nigerians to be patient with President Tinubu, adding that his policies would soon yield fruits and there would be “light at the end of the tunnel.”
He urged Nupes at home and in the diaspora to come back home and invest in the emirate to bolster development in the land.
The occasion featured the turbaning of Mrs Folashade Mujidat Tinubu-Ojo, first daughter of President Bola Tinubu, as the Yar Jari Nupe; Sen. Bima Muhammad-Enagi who represented Niger South senatorial district in the 9th Senate as the Dunjuma Nupe; Chief Mordecai Danteni- Baba, a former director/chief executive officer, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) as Majiko Nupe; Dr Abdullahi Abubakar-Kuso as Dan Wadata Nupe and Akanya Ibrahim-Aliyu from Kogi State as Magatakada Raba Nupe.
