Sultanate Visit: Governor Tambuwal treats Deji of Akure to glamorous Gala Night

By KEMI KASUMU, General Editor

As one of the activities lined up to make eventful the visit to the Seat of Caliphate by Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi Odundun II, the Government of Sokoto State under Rt. Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, threw a Gala Night event in the night of July 2, second of his three-day visit as guest of Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.

The gala night came three hours after a ‘thank you’ visit to the Bishop House where the Deji was received by Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Fr. Matthew Hassan Kukah.

Rev. Kukah, it will be recalled, delivered Ulefunta 2018 Lecture as a major event marking what has today become the globally known annual festival during which period sons and daughters of Akure gather to showcase their cultural heritage with their traditional rulership iconised in the Deji.

Gala Night is held for monarchs in the category of the likes of Ooni of Ife, Oba of Benin, Oba of Lagos and the Alaafin of Oyo. Holding it in honour of the Deji of Akure shows the depth of rating and appreciation by the Sultanate, Government and People of Sokoto of the Akure Monarch’s visit to the Hausa/Fulani community at a time much negative and destructive stories are being peddled, mischievously, around in traditional and social media against the peaceful place among other Northern communities.

Of importance is that the Sultan, who does not attend gala night events, breached his own protocol to be present as mark of reciprocation of the Deji’s deep love for him coming down from Yoruba Land to establish cross-ethnic and cross-religious connectivity with his Sultanate for the love of Nigeria.

Governor Tambuwal, who has been described by the visiting Akure monarch and members of his delegation as “very respectful and humble” particularly to the Sultan, not only attended the event held at Gidan Gowon (Presidential Lodge) Sokoto but also made his remarks.

It will be recalled that the governor, while receiving the Deji in a courtesy call in Council Chamber of Government House earlier in the day, warned political and national leaders to desist from making unguarded utterances capable of tearing the country apart.

Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, in his remarks, reiterated his statement made earlier in the day while responding to the Deji of Akure’s address at the special meeting session of the Sultanate Council he presided over in the Council Chamber of the Sultan’s Palace.

He told the world that the notion of ”Born to Rule” is a deliberate attempt to spite Sokoto as, according to the Nigeria’s number one King, a more acceptable motto for the place is “The Seat of Caliphate”, adding that “You are not greater in the sight of Allah because you are Sultan of Sokoto, Ooni of Ife, Oba of Lagos or President or because you are from Sokoto or Akure or anywhere. The one who is greater than the other among you by Allah’s rating is he that has piety.”

The Sokoto monarch reiterated his commitment to ensuring sustained relationship between Sokoto Caliphate and Akure Kingdom one of which he displayed by accepting to visit Ondo State in September to deliver this year’s Ulefunta Annual Lecture at the instance of Akure Kingdom.

More significant in the last 365 days is that, Bishop Matthew Kukah, who delivered last year’s Ulefunta Annual Lecture is a Christian leader from Sokoto Diocese of Catholic Mission and, as fate would have it, to improve on what is on ground, chief guest speaker to speak at the Ulefunta 2019 Annual Lecture is Leader of Muslims in Nigeria, beyond and Sultan is also of Sokoto.

The Deji was accompanied to the gala night by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae and 18 others of the 20-man high powered delegation visiting.

Responding on behalf of the Akure monarch, Falae, himself an Olu (of Ilu Abo) under the Deji-led Akure Kingdom, thanked the Sultan and Governor Tambuwal for the honour.

Chief Falae, a former Nigerian Presidential Candidate and Minister of Finance, declared that his kidnap and hostage in the bush for four days in the past was not by any ethnic or religious group but by criminals. He then called for holistic and concerted effort to solving the problem of insecurity, therefore, in the country.

Troupes of Sokoto State Cultural Group, Yoruba cultural group and Hausa artist, Oruma, among others performed to the admiration and cheering impression of the gathering.