Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN), Speaker of the Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, are part of eminent Nigerians who have seized the opportunity of Friday August 24 that is birthday of Sultan of Sokoto and Sarikin Musulumi of Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, in praying their tributes to the leader of over 90 million-member Nigerian Muslim Community.
Others who also wish him well at his birthday anniversary are the former Minister of Communications Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju, Special Adviser to the Nigeria’s President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Attah of Aiyede Ekiti, Oba Alhaji AbdulMumini Adebayo Orisagbemi and veteran journalist and former Chairman, Editorial Board of Vanguard Newspapers, Alhaji Kola Animasaun.
Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, as a devout Muslim, does not mark his birthday but, The DEFENDER learned, one’s birthday anniversary continues to provide opportunity for people to pay tribute to personalities around who have made their mark contributing positively to the building of peaceful and united Nigeria.
It is what, we gathered, has happened by the eminent citizens who have paid their glowing tributes to the Nigeria’s Apostle of peace, unity and development, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
In his personally signed congratulatory message to the retired Army General, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, described Sultan Sa’ad as one of Nigeria’s most outstanding promoters of justice, unity, peace and harmony.
He said the royal father has endeared himself to all Nigerians of goodwill, regardless of cultural, religious or political persuasions, owing to his relentless pursuit of peace and ethno-religious harmony among the diverse people.
“As a spiritual leader and traditional ruler, you have over the years, distinguished yourself as an exemplary leader, traversing the length and breadth of the country, preaching peaceful co-existence and building bridges across religious and cultural divides.
“I join your well-wishers and other well-meaning Nigerians in appreciating and commending your role in fostering mutual understanding, intra and inter religious harmony as well as your humanitarian services across the country.
“You have indeed proven yourself as a true man of peace and promoter of justice, national cohesion and global peace through words and deeds.
“As you mark your 62nd birthday anniversary, I pray God Almighty to grant you good health, more wisdom and peaceful reign,” the statement read.
The felicitations were compiled in a report by The DEFENDER, an online newspaper that keeps track of notable events surrounding eminent Nigerians, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abukakar mainly inclusive.
Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN), who is also retired Judge of the World Court at The Hague, was happy that the Sultan, whose 60th birthday two years was marked with glamour by well-wishers, had witnessed yet an added year.
Ajibola said, “We are all happy witnessing His Eminence’s 62nd birthday anniversary just like we witnessed his 60th and 61st. We pray to Almighty Allah to continue to strengthen and grant him the wisdom to continue with the great job that he is doing for both Muslim and Christian as well as the traditional communities in the country.”
Ajibola, who is also proprietor of Crescent University Abeokuta, Ogun State (CUAB), equally sent the best wishes of the university to the amiable leader who is a recipient of the university’s honourary doctorate degree.
The DEFENDER reports that Olanrewaju would not forget in a hurry the memory of the football days that he and Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar spent together at Jaji during their course in the Nigerian Army, both of them being fantastic footballers.
The Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, also came to be counted as part of the well-wishers who sent their goodwill messages to the Sultan on his birthday.
“Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar is a leader that I so much admire and I will continue to be proud of, for his great job that he has done for the peace, unity and progress of Nigerian nation and humanity,” Ojudu said.
The Attah of Ayede Kingdom, Ekiti State, Oba Abdul-Mumini Adebayo Orisagbemi, also congratulated the Sultan on his 62nd birthday saying, “I am very happy to be identified with His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar as my spiritual leader. I wish him a happy birthday and many more years ahead in the service of Allah and humanity,” Oba Orisagbemi said.
Former Chairman, Editorial Board of Vanguard Newspapers, Alhaji Kola Animasaun, also greeted the great monarch at 62.
The author of Voice of Reason, Animasaun, said, “I wish His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III more blessed years alive.”
By our checks, the Sultan would rather offer prayers to Allah thanking Him for the great things He has done for him over the years and supplicate him for more rewarding years ahead.
