Ekiti monarch names new baby after Sultan of Sokoto
*Says it’s beautiful way to appreciate sincere leader
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
“Here in Yoruba Land, many people believe that traditional ruler cannot be Islamic leader. But when I got to Sokoto, I saw why traditional ruler is not only custodian of customs and traditions of his communities but also reigns as spiritual leader.”
A newly born prince of an Ekiti State paramount ruler has been named after Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
The monarch, Attah of Aiyede Kingdom and Chairman of Ekiti State Muslim Traditional Rulers Council, Oba Alhaji AbdulMumini Orishagbemi, said it was in further show of respect and loyalty to the Sultan and spiritual leader of the Nigerian Muslim Community that he decided to remarkably name his new born prince after him.
The aqiqah that is naming ceremony was conducted on Monday July 27, 2020 equivalent to Yaomul-Ithnain Dhul-Hijjah 6, 1441AH by the Chief Imam of Aiyede Kingdom, Sheikh Musa Babalola, supported by Head of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, College of Education Ikere-Ekiti, Dr. Aminullah Ahmad.
He was christened SULTAN son of Oba AbdulMumini Orishagbemi.
Describing the Sokoto monarch and Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) as “My Spiritual Leader”, Attah Orishagbemi said, to him, there will be nothing more heartwarming than to appreciate a world class, pragmatic and sincere leader that Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar epitomises.
The DEFENDER reports that the Sultan came into the life of Attah in March 2016 and since then, life has not been the same again for the Ekiti Oba, his palace and kingdom of over 47 crown bearing communities.
Aiyede was formed by an Ibadan “Army General,” Esubiyi, who happened to be his great grang father. He was sent from Ibadan to station his troops at the place that is today known as Aiyede so as to stop the Fulani warriors of Ilorin from entering Yorubaland through Ekiti. Ironically, Esubiyi’s great grandson, AbdulMumini, is Oba today and is close friend to the leader of Fulani race in Nigeria.
The Ibadan General had fought and won wars until the last war, which ended draw between him and another great warrior and Attah of Igala. Surprised about the kind of an opponent he fought and unable to defeat, the Attah of Igala took the Ibadan General in control of Yoruba Land from Ekiti-Ilorin boundary area as close friend and requested him to settle with him.
Esubiyi, however, chose to move homeward and settled at a place now called Aiyedaade later shortened to Aiyede, as stated earlier. The over 47 communities populated by many tribes of Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani, Ebira, Tapa, and others had no option when they needed an Oba to lead them than to naturally install “General” Esubiyi straight as Paramount Ruler.
Before announcing his traditional title, he went to request the Attah of Igala to allow him name his Aiyede traditional title after Attah of Igala, his beloved friend and his request granted hence there started to be an Attah in Ekiti kingdom.
As a direct descendant of the first Attah Esubiyi, Attah Orishagbemi, the first Muslim ever to rule the kingdom, naming his new born prince after a greater ruler like Sultan is only an old tradition being replayed.
“I met Sultan of Sokoto His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar mni, CFR, in March 2016. From that first impression I have never had cause to regret my allegiance to him. I learned from him how being traditional ruler should never be excuse not to worship Allah and that is very important. I sit and even eat with my people seated around me and I observe daily solat with Muslims among them.
“My life changed. My kingdom came to prominence and I have opportunities that if properly channelled will lead my kingdom to greatness economically and politically. We enjoy respect of outsiders here in Aiyede Ekiti such that military and other security forces including the police, the DSS and civil defence have collaborated with efforts that brought permanent security and peace to Aiyede Kingdom. All of these shower of blessing, I must confess, started falling on us as bunch of favours since Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar’s breeze of peace started blowing into the place.
“This peaked with his physical visit on Saturday November 18, 2017. I have been thinking of what I can use to appreciate him but got nothing until the new prince was born and it came to my mind that naming him after the Sultan will go a long way to satisfying my conscience that he has been permanently registered for life in my royal family since the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, peace be upon him in his teaching, made us realise that in appreciating human being, one also appreciates Allah,” he said.
The Attah continued, “Here in Yoruba Land, many people believe that traditional ruler cannot be Islamic leader. But when I got to Sokoto, I saw why traditional ruler is not only custodian of customs and traditions of his communities but also reigns as spiritual leader. This is because, you must be vast in Islamic knowledge before you are made traditional ruler in the North. Hence, I declared him as my spiritual leader and it stands to remain so.
“Today, I named my new born prince SULTAN AbdulMumini Orishagbemi to the glory of Allah and honour of my Spiritual Leader, His Eminence General Dr. Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar. In Islam, we are encouraged by the Prophet (s) to either name our new born after Allah… Abdul-Allah, AbdulMumini; after the prophets…Muhammad, Ibrahim, Isa: after the companions…Abubakar, Umar, Usman; and after other good and great people. I name my baby after the Sultan of Sokoto as a mark of honour for a loving, humble, selfless traditional and Islamic leader of Nigeria and one of first four in Africa and one of first 17 in the world.”
SULTAN AbdulMumini Orishagbemi, was born by the monarch’s fourth wife, Olori Aminat, on Monday July 20, 2020 equivalent to Yaomul-Ithnain Dhul-Qada 29, 1441AH.
