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Tag: Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar

  • Sokoto agog as Sultan’s daughter, ex-gov’s son wed

    IT was a roll call of who is who in the traditional institution, the political class  and the business community on Saturday in Sokoto when a daughter of the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad  Sa’ad Abubakar and a son of a former governor of Bauchi State, Isah Yuguda, were united in marriage.

    A Federal Government delegation was led by the Chief of Staff to the president, Abba Kyari and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha to honour Fatima and the groom, Mahmoud.

    Also in attendance at the wedding fatiha held at famous Sultan Bello mosque, opposite the Sultan’s palace were Governors Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Emeka Ihedioha (Imo), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Ahmadu Umar Fintiri (Adamawa), Bala Muhammed (Bauchi) and  Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta).

    The Emir  of Kano, Muhammadu Lamido Sanusi, the Emir of  Gwandu, Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar, the Emir of  Bauchi, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu,  the Emir of Argungu, Samaila Mera were also there as were frontline businessman  Alhaji Aliko Dangote, prominent Islamic clerics and other well-wishers.

    The programme was conducted by the Sarkin Malaman Sokoto, Shiekh Buhari Siriddawa after the payment of N50,000 as dowry .

    The wedding Fatiha was followed by special prayers to commemorate the 63rd birthday of the Sultan.

    The prayers were  led by the Chief Imam of Ghana, Sheikh Usman Sharubutu.

    President Muhammadu Buhari also felicitated with the Emir on his birthday and the wedding.

  • Buhari’s re-election will of God – Monarchs

    The National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) on Tuesday said that only God gives power to whoever He wills.

    It also declared that the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari is the will of God for the progress and development of the country.

    The Chairman of the Council and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar spoke on behalf of the Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, when he led members of the Council on a congratulatory visit to President Buhari.

    The Council urged those who lost the 2019 Presidential election to accept the will of God and support President Buhari, to move the country forward.

    He said: “The National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria is here to felicitate with you on your re-election as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We join all Nigerians and the International community in praying and wishing you very big success in your tenure.

    “As traditional rulers, we are not only custodians of our people’s cultures, values and traditions but also the custodians of the religious beliefs and conscience of our people. We are therefore, fully aware that it is only God almighty who owns power and authority and who bestows this on whom He will, when He wills and how He wills.

    Read Also: Kashamu our son, say Remo monarchs

    “Therefore your election as President for a second tenure should be seen as what God has destined and no one could have changed that.

    “This result is the will of the almighty God and therefore we call on all to give you maximum support for the achievement of peace, development and progress of our dear nation.”

    The Sultan also charged President Buhari to continue to exhibit the characters of justice and fairness as he leads the country.

    He noted that the traditional institution as an enduring cultural heritage of its people would continue to serve as the bedrock of any administration in power.

    “This Council strives to ensure a peaceful, strong, united and developed Nigeria. It is for this reason that the Council resolved to continue to give maximum support to government at all levels, for the achievement of all visionary and people oriented policies, programmes and projects for the overall wellbeing of Nigerians, while at the same time maintaining its unwavering stance on  the Rule of Law  and practice of democracy,” he said.

    He pledged the support of traditional rulers for President Buhari’s three cardinal areas of focus, fighting corruption, revamping the economy and improving security.

    Responding, President Buhari sought for more understanding and support from the royal fathers.

    The President, who thanked God for an opportunity to serve the nation for another four years, re-stated his believe in Nigeria’s multi-cultural population and the continued existence of Nigeria as an indivisible entity.

    “I am very happy that you have come to congratulate me for coming to my second and final term of office. I believe in this system, such a multi-racial, multi-national and multi-cultural country like Nigeria, a country with more than 250, 000 cultures,” he said.

    The President said that traditional rulers have a big role to play in securing the country, because of their unique role in the society.

    “I realise that really if you want the security of the country, which is very important to us and one of our three main areas of focus. As traditional rulers, you know everybody in your constituencies and you know which family has hardened criminals and which family has respectable people so there is no way any government at any level can survive creditably without your support. This is the honest fact whether people accept it or not.

    “So we always depend on you because you know the weaknesses of our system and the society. We certainly need your cooperation on day to day basis to make sure that we consolidate on what we promised the whole country,” the President stated.

    Co-Chairman of the Council, the Ooni of Ife, His impearl majesty; Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi said traditional rulers across the country have resolved to work very closely with the government.

    He thanked President Buhari for his willingness to work with the traditional institution, because of his believe in taking Nigeria to another level.

    The Delegation comprised of paramount rulers and Chairmen of the various State Traditional Councils in Nigeria.

  • There is too much bloodshed in Nigeria – Sultan

    As Oni decry money politics

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) on Thursday raised an alarm over incessant bloodletting in the country, saying there was too much blood shed in the country and the rising cases of thuggery, terrorism and armed banditry.

    Also, the Oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi also raises an alarm about the problem confronting the country saying that the monetization of Nigerian politics is affecting the nation adversely.

    Both leaders spoke at a National Stakeholders Summit on 2019 election Integrity and official unveiling of the let the votes count, rig no vote campaign organised by the Youths off The Street Initiative in collaboration with the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council.

    The Sultan said Nigerians cannot continue to go about killing and spilling innocent blood in the name of religion when both Islam and Christianity preaches the sacredness of life which should be respected by all.

    The Sultan said “As Christians and Muslims, we know the sacredness of life. We cannot go about killing innocent people and claiming to be doing so in the name of religion. This is not right and must be condemned and must be removed from our communities. All of us must rise up against those people.

    “There is too much blood shedding in Nigeria, the blood of innocent people who does not even know what is happening or what is governance. This is happening across the country and if we don’t stop this and recognize the sacredness of human life, we cannot see peace, we cannot have peace and development in any place.

    “Nigerians must wake up and know that we must come together because our religion does not allow us to kill people, but preach peaceful coexistence, loving your neigbour as yourself and things like that. So, when people spread a different notion about what Islam or Christianity said about loving your neigbour by killing him or abusing him every day and calling him all manner of names, I don’t know.

    “The CAN President speaks for the millions of Christians in the country and I speak for my own brothers and sisters who are Muslims. You don’t have bring everybody. You just need to bring the leadership to a room to discuss, but we must discuss what we believe in and what our religion order us to. Once we go out, we can through the Media spread that campaign.

    “It is one thing to come to a meeting and say one thing, it is another to go out and implement those that things we agree on. In Islam, for you to do what you don’t believe in is very bad and so, you can not say one thing and do another. So, we must do what we say and work with what we believe in.

    “People see politics as do or die. We should not see it that way. That is why we tell out politicians always that they should feel they must be in a particular office always. You can contribute to the development of the country or your community by being an independent person. It is not by force for you to go into a public office.

    “If you know the consequences of holding a public office when you are going t face the almighty God, you will not want to hold a public office. People feel you just come into public office, take whatever you want to take, go about in convoys. That is not leadership.

    “If you are elected by people, let them come near you so that you feel their pains. You can’t be in an office and nobody come close to you. A leader must take decision concerning his people by consultations. You don’t just wake up and enact a law that is totally against my freedom.

    “These are things that we must continue to speak out as religious and traditional rulers. There is nothing to fear about because if we don’t tell the truth, it will one day work against you and you will find yourself in a bad place and you will be struggling to get out of it and you won’t be able to.

    Read Also: Sultan tasks politicians on national peace, unity

    While saying that something was wrong with the leadership of the country which needs to be addressed, the Sultan said “If you hear so much cry, then something is wrong with the leadership and that leadership must take correction so that we see how to get things right. As religious leaders we must come together and realize that there are so many thing we have in common than the few things that we lead us astray and those few things can lead you to hell fire as religious leaders.

    “We must be very serious about how we do things as religious leaders and if we want to have a country. We must be serious about the cry of the common man who is crying daily for one thing or the other. We think that things are right. “Definitely, things are not right and when you know that there is a problem, then it is half solved. We must agree that there is problem so that we now know that we have half of the solution. The more we come together and talk, the more we come closer to the solution.

    “Now, we have a very common problem of thuggery, violence, terrorism, shedding innocent blood among others. We must come together and solve this problem and when we take decision on this, please let us go back and implement those decisions. “

    The Oni of Ife also said “This country is growing every day and nobody is talking about birth control. The population of Nigeria now is between 190 and 200 million, day while the leadership demography of this country is less than 1 percent. They have been ruling us since 1960.

    “Let us compare notes and be realistic and face the fact that there is a problem in this country. Let us not hide under any color. The active population of this country is about 150 million people with a bleak future.

    “The young men that were apprehended and paraded for kidnapping the Chibok girls are below the age of 30. They thought they were doing business because they are ver6 ignorant of what they were doing.

    “There is problem in this country. What are our leaders doing to orientate them? How are we orientating our youths? Anytime we want to destroy this country, we go to this set of Nigerians, give the, a few money and the whole problem will start and the leaders won’t be able to handle it.

    “The oxygen of ideal politics is the people, but in Nigeria, the oxygen of Nigerian politics is money, see and buy. What a nation? We are not all safe. It is about time for us to know that the leaders of this country are not safe, same thing with the followers because a lot of the youths of this country are ignorant. What they want to do is sustain themselves and they need basic things to do that. Are we going to fold our hands and keep talking and the walk? The problem is our problem.

    “Election is coming now and we are talking about one man, one vote. We can do all the talks for forever, but what are we doing. There is true leadership and true followership. We all know that oxygen is life and the oxygen of Nigerian politics is money.

    “But everybody that is in leadership position should know that man made money and it has expiration date. Where is the sense of integrity and content of your character? What are our religious leaders doing? How well are we installing values in people that are so low to us.

    “Leadership is examination and you will not hear the result of your examination when you are still a leader because people will be hailing you. When you leave that position, your phone will stop ringing and they will move to another leader. When are we going to have a very strong character and moral in our society?

    “The problem is not just our leader, but all of us. It is very important for us to invest in Nigeria Youths because the oxygen of politics of money. This country belongs to all Nigerians and the welfare of every Nigeria must count. The same way the votes of Nigerians will count individually, the welfare must also count. We are going into the next political dispensation, let us talk to ourselves.

    “Thieves, Armed robbers, terrorists are not faceless people. They live in our midst and we can fish them out if we are serious enough. If we are serious enough, then we should let them know that they can ostracize from the society and that they don’t have a place in this society. We should all come together and see how to better the lots of our youths.

    Also speaking, the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Samson Ayokunle It was unfortunate that the electoral system in the country has been manipulated over time, resulting in producing leaders who have not been accountable to the people.

    He said “I have wondered over the future of Nigeria in many places and have come to the conclusion that we are not where we are supposed to be as a nation because of the avalanche of the people of substance, well loaded people by the Lord God Himself who are supposed to be ruling us.

    “But in the past, through manipulation of votes cast, we have been having the wrong people at the helm of affairs. The blind has been leading those who can see. It is very unfortunate that the best Nigerian is not the leader of the nation.

    “We don’t want a mediocre, we don’t need a mediocre because you can only offer what you have, you cannot offer what you don’t have. And we, in a his 21st century should be able to take our destines in our own hands by saying no to anyone, no matter how highly placed that wants to manipulate elections thereby mortgaging the future of Nigerians.

    “Can’t we have a people-oriented, selfless leader? Somebody that can add value and make all Nigerians proud? Actually, the religion one practices is not what matters but the quality of that person, quality in terms serving Nigerians selflessly, objectively without nepotism or any other mundane considerations.

    “That is what we need as stakeholders. There must be something connecting all of us in 2019 to pick the best Nigerian politician to be our leader. Otherwise, we mortgage again, out future.

    “If you are talking about election integrity, the voters register will be a reliable one and that is what I am not sure of presently. The voters register as produced by INEC, is it a true voters register? Is there no manipulation in that voters register? And they have listed those who registered into regions and we relying on them have become the victim.

    “If the voters register is not reliable, then there will be no election integrity. Are we sure the registered Nigerians are not foreigners? For the elections of 2019 to be credible, there must be impartiality on the side of the election umpire. INEC must have no political party, no region. INEC must be the watchdog for us all to guarantee our future. If this is not the case, all the money spent on it will be a waste.

    There must be impartiality on the part of the security agents. If the reports that we have heard and seen from the state elections that we have been watching, I don’t think there will be an election that will be free and fair in 2019.

    The two political parties have not learnt their lesson. Vote buying by the two political parties, is that a way to stop corruption? We must be ready to talk sincerely to ourselves without fear or favor because we are in Nigeria together. Nobody has a higher stake in Nigeria than us.

    “There must be love for the nation by the contestants. I don’t know any other country where politicians are so desperate in having their way as Nigeria. We must also be sure that when we go to the courts, there must be said to do justice.”

  • Guard your utterances, Sultan cautions politicians

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III has cautioned politicians to guard their utterances in the interest of peace saying, politicians should stop abusing each other especially the incident report in Kaduna.

    Speaking at the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) Pre-Ramadan meeting in Kaduna on Tuesday, the Sultan called on leaders and the led to respect each other saying, “We are the only once that can bring an end to the challenges confronting us as a nation.”

    He said instances where political leaders go about abusing themselves publicly and is being heard and seen on different media platforms nationally and internationally is not good for the country

    While expressing dismay over the rising cases of drug abuse and the intake of Codeine by people especially women and young girls in the Northern part of the country, the Sultan called on parents to monitor their wards to stop the scourge saying, “It has no positive impact on their lives.”

    He said, “We should access what the government has done for the Muslim Ummah since their election in last general elections and use it as a yard stick to determine who we will vote for in the fourth coming elections because if we do not make the assessment, we might just end up voting for the wrong people and we would have to wait for another four or even eight years to elect new leaders.”

    He called on Islamic scholars to educate and enlighten Muslims during their sermons in their various mosques to using their votes to elect credible leaders that will prioritize issues challenging Muslims in the country.

    He frowned at the wanton killings of innocent lives going on in the country and called on security agencies to take proactive steps in tackling the menace.

    As the month of Ramadan approaches, the sultan called on Muslims to start fasting as soon as the announcement on the moon sighting is made saying, “We have a Moon Sighting Committee which reports to me when the moon is sighted before the announcement is made.”

    He however called on Muslims to use the month of Ramadan to pray for the Ummah and the entire country in order for peace and tranquility to return.

  • Sultan to Muslim parents: give your kids Islamic/western education

    The Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has urged Muslim parents to ensure their children acquire both Islamic and western education.

    Abubakar who spoke at the graduation ceremony of 33 students of the Madarasatul Najiml Huda Islamiyya, Mabera Sabon Gida, Sokoto, noted that religious education was fundamental in life and for the attainment of Allah’s blessings in the hereafter.

    Represented by the Sarkin Gabas of Kalambaina, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmad, the revered monarch said, “It is therefore imperative for parents to dedicate themselves by committing their time and resources to the development of their children’s education.

    “Both western and Islamic education is a useful ingredient for building an egalitarian, just and trusted generations for a disciplined and responsible society,” he stressed.

    Abubakar also urged the graduates to make judicious use of the knowledge acquired for the development of Islam and humanity.

    In a sermon on “Trust and Justice” delivered by nine-year-old Abubakar Suraj which was translated by 12-year-old Hannatu Attahiru, the young preacher noted that trust was an essential pillar that drives a responsible and disciplined society governed by good leaders.

    Young Suraj described leadership as a position of trust with responsibility, urging leaders to uphold the virtue and principles of trust and justice through which they could earn the respect of the society.

    “Thes,” he said, “begin from the family nucleus to the societal levelý. We have to be responsible to our families, neighbours and humanity as a whole in all ramifications of trust,” he said, noting that it would enhance peace, unity and sustain development.

    Also, the Sarkin Yakin Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar Jabbi stressed the need for parents to encourage the education of their children by ensuring prompt payments of fees.

    Jabbi said, “Parents should know that they are the primary custodians of their children’s orientation and education which should not be compromised.”

    Charman of the occasion and former Head of Service in the state, Alhaji Abdullahi Wali noted that Islamic education was an evolution that has been in existence since human creation.

    “It is the foundation of human survival and recipe for self-actualisation. It is our collective responsibility to put children on a sound track of acquiring religious knowledge, discipline and acceptable behavioural lifestyle ýin order to bequeath a virtue for a just and honest generation,” he pointed out.

    The ceremony was attended by numerous dignitaries including the Chairman, Aliyu Magatakarda Foundation, Alhaji Abubakar Digogo Yabo, Chief Imam of Sultan Maccido Juma’at Mosque, Yelwa Garden, Sokoto, Sarkin Fulanin Kebbe, Sarkin Yamman Mabera, Ulamas among others included the presentation of prizes and certificates to the 18 male and 15 female graduates who excelled in different categories.

  • Embrace dialogue as solution to the country’s challenges – Sultan of Sokoto

    Embrace dialogue as solution to the country’s challenges – Sultan of Sokoto

    Sultan of Sokoto and Amirul Muminin, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has identified dialogue as the only remedy and solution to Nigeria’s multi-dimensional problems.

    According to the revered leader, “We should sit down, discuss issues and problems, as well as see where we have gone wrong and what went wrong.”

    Abubakar made the remarked in Sokoto Wednesday night when he hosted some religious groups, resident communities and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), to a Ramadan dinner in his palace.

    The royal father noted that challenges were meant to solidify Nigeria’s unity while underscoring the need for Nigerians to trust each other.

    He stressed further that  no problem in the world that dialogue cannot solve, noting that  crises were not unique to Nigeria, thus “We should see where we have derailed and retrace our steps, then move forward as a single, indivisible country.

    “There is no problem without a solution and there is no padlock made without keys to open it. It remains for us to see how to open it.”

    The religious monarch however, lamented the dwindling level of patriotism in the country, saying “is very low and admonished Nigerians to develop their country as nobody would do it for them.”

    He further said Nigerians were eager to live in peace and unity with one another, irrespective of any religious, political and ethnic coloration.

    “We must all strive to develop Nigeria into a country based on justice, fair-play and respect for on another.

    “Above all, we need the fear of God, as with the fear of God, you find things going right. God is the Alpha and Omega”, he pointed out.

    Abubakar explained that ” The fear of God is key to solving all our problems. Nigerians are very religious people and we have various Mosques and Churches.”

    Commenting on the recurring farmers-herdsmen clashes, the religious leader said that those causing mayhem were strangers adding that “those perpetrating crimes should be treated as criminals.”

    He said “We are all created by God and we should help one another, although we should hold our identities, with respect for one another.

    Abubakar maintained that Nigerians must understand their differences, “if not, we will never live in peace, when there is suspicion, there will be no trust and there will be no unity,” he pointed out.

    The revered monarch further commended the acting President Yemi Osinbajo, for initiating the series of wide consultations as a way out to calm aggrieved persons in the country, while promising that the traditional institution would continue to work relentlessly for Nigeria to remain peaceful, united and indivisible.

  • 22 students bag first class as 13, 347 graduate from UNICAL

    22 students bag first class as 13, 347 graduate from UNICAL

    Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Zana Akpagu, on Thursday said 22 undergraduates would be awarded first class degrees during the 30th Convocation Ceremony of the institution on Saturday, March 11.

    Addressing reporters during a pre-convocation press conference in his office, Akpagu said 13, 347 would be graduating from the institution.

    He said 1, 437 would get post graduate certificates while 11, 910 would be getting their first degrees.

    He said the number was high because they put in place a mechanism to clear a backlog of students who seemed to remain in the school perpetually.

    Giving a further breakdown of the post graduate certificates, he said 300 would be getting their PhDs, 517 MSCs, 70 MAs, 130 MEds and 400 post graduate diplomas.

    For the first degree he said 7,400 were from the Humanities while 4,510 are from the Sciences.

    A further breakdown indicated that 22 got first class degrees, 2,408 got second class upper degrees, 5,890 got second class lower degrees, 2900 got third class degrees, and 1,000 got pass degrees.

    Akpagu said the institution would phase out pass degrees.

    He said the Convocation Ceremony would provide the opportunity to flag of their legacy project which would be an ultra modern medical centre for the school, which would be funded by internally generated revenue.

    He said honorary doctorate degrees (honoris causa) would be awarded to three prominent Nigerians for their contribution to the socio-economic growth of the country.

    Those to get the honorary degrees are Alhaji Umaru Kwabo, Sir Daniel Chukwudozie and Brig Gen Anthony Ukpo rtd.

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Dr Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal among dignitaries are expected to grace the Convocation Ceremony

     

  • Sultan launches fatwa committee, 12 others

    Sultan launches fatwa committee, 12 others

    The Muslim umbrella body, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), inaugurated yesterday the Fatwa committee, which is saddled with interpreting Islamic jurisprudence and recommending appropriate sanction against offenders.

    The fatwa committee was among 13 committees, majority of which are headed by traditional rulers in the North, inaugurated by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, at the national headquarters of the body in Kaduna.

    Speaking at the event, the Sultan said setting up the committee was as a way of uniting Muslims, pointing out that it was important for Muslims to come together as one.

    He said: “The work of Islam should be taken seriously, as our religion has problems and we should fight towards embracing peace and unity amongst ourselves to achieve what has been before.

    “I urged the appointees to be proactive as they accept this wondrous task to serve in the different committees, and make sure that you discharge you duties diligently.”

    The Secretary-General, Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said the JNI has gone a long way in propagating the ideals of Islam, unity of the Ummah and protecting the overall interests of Muslims since its inception in 1961.

    Aliyu added that the committees are to collaborate with stakeholders to source for support or counterpart funding and further articulate a blue print for the JNI.

    JNI’s spokesman Umar Zaria said the Fatwa Committee was set up to look into current Islamic issues that do not have clear interpretations in Islamic Jurisprudence.

    The committee, Zaria said, has the power to proffer advice, even the passing of a death sentence on an individual.

    He said: “The Fatwa committee will look into areas of modern times and Islam. It would be saddled with the interpretation, for example, whether or not it is Islamically right to eat with fork, spoon or not.

    “It would look into current trends as they concern Muslims and decide on the kind of judgment they would get.

    “This would be more practical in areas where Sharia law is now being practised.

    “Yes, on the passing of a death sentence, even if it is on a non-Muslim, the Fatwa Committee is capable of doing that.

    “But, as I said, it all depends on whether the issue in question is in Islamic Jurisprudence. But the Fatwa committee is strictly on individual behaviour and not a communal committee. And Muslims are the most affected.”