*3-day 1439AH Eid-el-Fitri celebration with glitters by Seat of Caliphate
…Plus Durbar procession, Governor’s homage, Sultan’s return visit to Governor, Gwandu, Argungu monarch’s visit
*Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar refine us to suit his disciplinary leadership – Farak Ladan
By Kemi Kasumu, General Editor
“Let me clearly and openly state without any ambiguity that you have become a source of pride and inspiration to this family of Sheikh Usman Bin Fodio in uniting us and making us understanding one another; you are really a pride to the Muslim Ummah. Let me reassure you that we remain loyal to you and we will continue to support you in your strive to promote peace and understanding in our country, Nigeria,” Emir of Gwandu said.
Celebrating Sallah, be it Eid-el-Fitri or Eid-el-Adha, in Sokoto is always memorable and fantastic. This is because it is a thing that links one with history of the Nigeria’s most influential community and tells the story of the vitality that is embedded in unity of the Ummah.
From Left: National Vice Chairman, Northwest, All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, Governor of Sokoto State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, others at the mini-Durbar marking 1439AH Eid-el-Fitri celebration at the Sultan’s Palace Arcade, Sokoto, on Friday June 16, 2018 equivalent of Shawwal 1.
Usman Dan Fodio, also called Usman Bin Fodio, had some brothers and friends who, in later life, either became Emir in places outside Sokoto or got the ranks of council membership of the sultanate, respectively. Direct younger brother of Dan Fodio was Abdullahi. While the elder brother grew threw the rank of Khalifa (Calipha) by history to later be called the Sultan, his younger brother, who was actually the Wazirin Sokoto during his time that is the second-in-command to the Khalifa, Abdullahi, went on to become the Emir of Gwandu based on the will of the Khalifa after it became clear to him (Abdullahi) that his effort to succeed his elder brother was against the documented directives left behind by the great reformist, Usman Dan Fodio, thereby making Dan Fodio’s direct descendants the successors of the throne while his younger brother, Abdullahi got his ascendancy to greatness as Emir in other land.
It is the reason the Sultan, because he knows the history of his ancestors, would say by jokes that, “yes, there is Wazirin Sokoto” particularly in the newly appointed Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu “but the main Wazirin is this” and he points to Emir of Gwandu at the Sallah homage in manner which sparked laughters.
This year’s Eid-el-Fitri in the Seat of Caliphate came in three phases spread across three days fully packed with interesting activities including that which is purely of worship and adoration to the Almighty Allah, social events with which the mini-Durbar was loaded, governor’s Sallah homage to the Sultan, menu-menu, Sultan’s return courtesy visit to the governor and that of reechoed history witnessing the visit of Emir of Gwandu accompanied by the Emir of Argungu.
Day One
It was a celebration that was greeted with series of activities which started from Sultan’s drive, on his return from Eid, round the metropolis to the cheering acceptance of his subjects and fellow Muslims in town down ending the road show motorcade at the Palace Arcade where a mini-Durbar was already mounted.
Attended by Governor of Sokoto State and Mutawallen of the Caliphate, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and other top placed citizens of the Sokoto State extractions, the Durbar provided people of the predominantly Muslim community with the opportunity to felicitate as seen in the parade of horse riding, traditional gun-shooting, camel ride show and other activities that added glamour and glitters to the Sallah festivity in the core Northern community.
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar ((Usman Dan Fodio) welcoming his brother, the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Ilyasu Bashar (Abdullahi) during the Sallah homage to the Sultan’s Palace.
The Durbar was immediately followed by the traditional Sallah home paid on the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, by the Governor, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. After the homage by the governor, the Sultan, the governor and other guests including some representatives of the Catholic Mission in town, who were at the Palace to felicitate with the Sultan and Muslims on the successful completion of the monthlong Ramadan fasting, moved into the main hall of the Sultan’s Palace for refreshment.
Spectacular to sight was that the Sultan at the event would not allow anybody to serve him as he was seeing carrying his own place, collect his choice of food and moved back to his seat where he ate. Same thing was done by the governor and this show of leadership example was followed by others in the fully filled hall who also lined up to individually collect their own food and return to seat to eat.
The Sultan then saw off the governor after the main hall eating and drinking and that mark the end of the Sallah Day activities, which was Day One.
Day Two
Day Two of the Sallah activities was marked with pivotal visit of the Emir of Gwandu, accompanied by the Emir of Argungu, who came to the Sokoto Palace to pay his Sallah homage to the Sultan.
Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, welcoming the Emir of Argungun, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila Argungu, during the Sallah homage to the Sultan’s Palace.
On the said date that was Saturday, Shawwal 2, 1439AH equivalent to June 16, 2018, early in the morning, a message had pierced through airspace to the two-bedroom lodge of this reporter, who was the Sultan’s media guest for the purpose of celebrating Sallah with him, that there would be a very vital annual event of Sokoto Education Development Trust Fund. It is the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Fund, which is said to traditionally hold next to the Sallah Day. Details of this particular AGM, also attended by the governor and other eminent indigenes of Sokoto State had since been reported in a separate report.
Day Three was Sunday Shawwal 3, 1439AH equivalent to June 17, 2018. Events of this day started with a return-visit of the Sultan to the Government Lodge I, Sokoto, for a courtesy call on the Governor of the state and the Mutawallen of the Caliphate he heads, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. The visit was followed immediately upon return from the Government Lodge I by another event, this time, of the visit of Emir of two top Northern monarchs in the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Ilyasu Bashar, and Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila Argungu.
Earlier at the Government Hosue, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, who was accompanied to the Government Lodge I by members of the Sultanate Council and District Heads in the Caliphate, said he was there to return the visit of the governor, who had previous day paid him Sallah Homage at his Palace and that it was being done in the spirit of Islamic brotherhood and statesmanship.
From Left: The Waziri of Sokoto, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu, Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Ilyasu Bashar, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila Argungu, during the Sallah homage.
The Sultan, while thanking Allah (SWT) for the witness of this year’s Eid-el-Fitri, also seized the event to expressed his condolence to the state government and the entire people of Sokoto over the deaths of eminent sons of the state, namely Sarkin Yabo, the retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Hamza Isa (Rtd) and many others and prayed that Allah (SWT) would grant them Aljannat firdaus.
The Sultan seized the occasion to represent the Wazirin Sokoto, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu, who for the first time was coming among the Sultanate Council members to come for the Sallah visit. According to His Eminence said the Waziri was recently appointed and, using an administrative language, he urged the governor on continuous and support, particularly for the recently appointed district heads and the Waziri, to enable them discharge their duties effectively.
Sultan Abubakar commended the Federal Government for banning codeine in the country which he had noted he had earlier called for during the National Council of Health meeting that took place in Abuja but was not effected until a BBC documentary was shown on how the substance destroys the youths health nationwide and government immediately moved to ban it.
He then urged Sokoto State government set up a task force committee to enforce the law, which according to him, is very important, “for it will help to check the selling of such drugs or substance.”
The Sultan urged the Federal Government to do some urgent to check the incessant killings and kidnapping in Zamfara State, which, he said, was at an alarming rate though not yet covered by the Nigerian Press.
He said going by the situation in recent month that many lives were lost in Zamfara, adding that though Sokoto shares some of the problems along the border local government areas with Zamfara namely Isa, Sabon Birmi, Rabah, Kbbe and Tureta.
The Sultan acknowledge that “government, security agencies and the traditional leaders are doing their best to see that the situation does not escalate”, adding that, “strategies are being put in place to ensure that the state (Sokoto) is fully protected and by extension Zamfara State.”
He said “all hand must be on deck to save this situation in Zamfara State.”
On refuse littering the Sokoto metropolis, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, urged the state government, during the courtesy visit, to do something on it as, according to him, currently the refuse situation in the Sokoto metropolis is becoming a source of concern.
He said “Sokoto is well known as a clean city but with the current situation something is wrong somewhere. Whoever is charged with that responsibility of refuse disposal act quickly and save the situation and if they cannot perform effectively, let them tell the governor of their inability so that an effective and formidable team will be set up to check this menace before it gets out of control,” he said.
The Sultan lauded the security agents in the state for their commendable actions in maintenance of peace among the people, saying, “I am impressed but do more”.
The Sultan commended the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Balarabe Shehu Kakale for promoting health service delivery in the state which he said included the setting up a referral hospital in each of the senatorial districts of the state.
He expressed his delight with the success being recorded by the Ministry of Education, the school enrolment and the academic performance being recorded.
He promised his continuous commitment and that of the traditional leaders to supporting the government plans and programmes aimed at promoting socio-economic well being of the people of Sokoto State.
The Sultan urged the people in the state to support the present administration in its resolve to take the state to the greater height.
He commended the government’s efforts in distributing massive food items to the needy in the state during the just concluded Ramadan fasting as well as the government’s Ramadan feeding package.
He then prayed for the peace, progress and development of Sokoto State, Nigeria and urged citizens to make good prayers for the leaders.
On the current war on corruption, the Sultan reminded the Muslims that already Islam is totally against corruption and said that he is fully in support of government in this war and urged the government to punish or sanction any corrupt person in the country however highly placed he is.
The monarch however expressed his displeasure on how some corrupt persons were not being sanctioned, adding that, “There shall be no impunity, when you are caught in this corruption act, you should be punished.
Responding, Governor Tambuwal, who started his remarks with a joke that the police band made more of beats for the Sultan because they know he is a retired General than they did for him a civilian, thanked His Eminence for his fatherly advisory role all the times to see to continued successes of the governor and government of Sokoto State.
The governor prayed to Allah to reward the Sultan with good of this world and Aljannah in the next world.
On the request for the welfare upkeep to the newly appointed district heads and the Waziri, he assured the Sultan that government would act soon.
On the need to set up a Task Force to enforce codeine banning law, he said that, “Already, government has that law but it will reinforce it so as to enable it effectively discharge the responsibility assigned for it.”
On the re-surface of hp of refuse and poor sanitary condition of Sokoto City, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said he had discussed is with the Commissioner for the Environment.
He efforts toward the cleanup of Sokoto from hip of refuse included the refuse collection vehicles purchased by the government and that 500 additional labour personnel will be employed to improve on the existing effort.
He assured the Sultan that something will be done urgent to check the menace, which, if care is not taken, he said might be lead breakout of diseases like malaria and cholera and so on.
On security, the government said the state government was doing everything possible alongside the security agencies to bring to a stop incessant kidnapping and attacks on some border local government with Zamfara State.
Tambuwal said, “Insha Allah, we will not allow its escalation.”
The governor said the state government will continue to team up with such good policies and programmes that will promote the socio-economic well being and political stability in the state.
Day Three
The third day of the Eid-el-Fitri celebration with Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, brought yet another interesting activity showcasing core of the making of the Caliphate in the visit of Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Ilyasu Bashar, accompanied by Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila Argungu, who were in the Sultan’s Palace to pay their Sallah homage.
Both notable Northern traditional rulers came alongside their councils’ members, religious leaders and districts heads in their respective communities.
In his remarks, Emir of Gwandu Alhaji Bashar he was in the Sultan’s Palace based on a well known long tradition “to come and rejoice with my senior brother, the Sultan”.
The Sultan represents Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio while Emir of Gwandu represents Abdullahi, junior brother of Dan Fodio.
The Gwandu monarch said he was in the Sokoto Palace to rejoice with the Sultan on the successful completion of Ramadan fasting.
He thanked Allah (SWT) for making them witness this year’s celebration and commended Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar on his effort to unite the Muslim Ummah in the country and his relentless effort in promoting peace in the land.
He then said, “Your effort in going round every part of this country and your good intervention has saved a lot and has brought a much desired peaceful co-existence among people both Muslims and Christians alike.”
The Emir said, “Let me clearly and openly state without any ambiguity that you have become a source of pride and inspiration to this family of Sheikh Usman Bin Fodio in uniting us and making us understanding one another; you are really a pride to the Muslim Ummah.
“Let me reassure you that we remain loyal to you and we will continue to support you in your strive to promote peace and understanding in our country, Nigeria.”
He urged the various councils’ members to advise them, the leaders honestly in the course of their responsibilities reminding them, by who they are today, that they have inherited the status of their forefathers and that they should represent them well.
The Gwandu monarch also seized the occasion to praise the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Argungu, for the good understanding, brotherliness and long relationship that existed between them.
In his response, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar thanked Allah (SWT) “for sparing our lives to have successfully completed the fasting and witness the Sallah festivity.”
He thanked his historical “junior brother”, the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Bashar, and Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila Argungu, for their support and loyalty, commending them for also supporting and promoting his programmes of peace and unity of the Ummah and Nigeria as a whole.
“Why Sokoto owes its current success to discipline of Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar”
In the meantime, Secretary to the Sultanate Council, Alhaji Faruk Ladan, told this reporter during the third event that, “The successes that you witness today did not come by accident. It is be under the leadership of this Sultan, who has been panel-beating us left, right, front and back to fit into his administration of the Caliphate. You would discover in history of Sokoto Caliphate that Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio that is the ancestral father of His Eminence lived a life full of fear of Allah and love for the good of humanity. That is what you can find in this Sultan, who has ensured, like Sardauna, carried all the North along.”
The Sultan, Faruk Ladan said, has not only carried the North along together but has ensured that the entire Nigerians, despite their different believes and geographical backgrounds, are carried along for the peace, progress and development of the country.
It will be recalled that the first time Northern Nigeria would experience attempted split was during the civilian administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, when he divided the North into three to suit his leadership thinking that it would be difficult for him to achieve his aims and objectives, best known to him, only if he break the One North into pieces. It will also be recalled that while Sardauna Ahmadu Bello headed Northern Region, he carried the North along as One North likewise Alhaji Shehu Shagari but this nosedived with the coming of Obasanjo.
But under the leadership of Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, the North, despite the Obasanjo’s effort to divide the region, has continue to move on together as a united force, findings revealed.
