By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has been informed of a new Sultan Guest House gifted by Nigeria’s senior advocate and Baba Adinni of Oke-Ogun, Alhaji Ahmed Raji, to be cited in Iseyin, Oyo State.
The SAN noted that “anytime Sultan of Sokoto visits anywhere in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State or South West, the guest house is his pe4manent house that he will use. When he lives, it will be locked until he comes again.”
Alhaji Ahmed Raji made this known in his remarks at the special dinner organised by him in honour of the Sultan in Iseyin night of Thursday February 22, 2024, adding that the guest house construction is already ongoing and would be completed soon for the Sultan himself to commission.
Raji noted that the dinner was organised as a mark of unity between the Iseyin and Oke-Ogun people, the Ummah led by the Sultan and other parts of Nigeria.
He urged the Leader of over 100 million Muslims of Nigeria to keep Oke-Ogun dearer to his heart and play roles in ensuring further growth and development of Iseyin and Oke Ogun.
“We affirm your leadership,” the senior advocate of Nigeria said to the Sultan.
Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who started a three-day visit to Oyo State on Wednesday 21st February 2024, had earlier on Thursday commissioned the newly renovated Iseyin Central Mosque in Iseyin, funded by Alhaji Ahmed Raji (SAN).
Others who spoke at the dinner included the host-monarch and Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Alhaji Sefiu Olawale Oyebola Adeyeri III, Ajirotutu I and the Okere of Saki and Chairman of the Oke-Ogun Traditional Rulers Council, Oba Khalid Oyeniyi Olabisi Oyedepo III. They all appreciated the love that Sultan Haa for all Nigerians especially the people of Oyo State and South West and pledged to love him continuously and unfailingly.
Responding, the Sultan said “at a time like this you have time but you don’t have much to say. We are brothers and sisters. We are brought together by Islam, we are brought together by citizenship of Nigeria and w3 will continue to do good towards one another.”
He recalled, “I started my military career in.Saki as a young officer of the Nigerian Army. And I went back home when I visited the place”, he said while noting that he was in Iseyin for the commissioning of Iseyin Central Mosque renovated by Ahmed Raji (SAN).
He commended Raji saying that he has done not only what is seen in Iseyin but everywhere and prayed that Almighty Allah would reward him abundantly with goodness.
The Sultan granted the request of Raji and others to keep Oke-Ogun dearer to his heart especially in matter of growth and development.
He, however, told Raji on the matter of Sultan Guest House that, “Whatever guest house you are building for me in Iseyin, before you complete the building, go and build and put the palace of Aseyin in better shape. Then I can come back again and acceot the Sultan Guest House.”
Referencing a book of Sultan Muhammadu Bello, who was direct son of the first Amirul Mu’mineen, Sultan Abubakar urged Nigerians to pray for leaders whatever the condition.
He said he and Nigeria’s 36 states’ traditional rulers have been meeting to proffer and submit recommended solutions to presidents from Obasanjo to Yar’Adua, Jonathan, Buhari and now Tinubu.
He warned that leaders should not be corrected in the open but through constructive channels available.
