By KEMI KASUMU
The annual festivity of Islam by which Muslims are enjoined to sacrifice ram or other approved animals marking the supreme sacrifices by Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon him, has come and gone, but the positive impacts of its celebration this year, 1440AH equivalent to 2019, remains with faithful in Nigeria and their Christian brothers and sisters across the tribes and political boundaries to better see peaceful co-existence as inevitable project they must embrace as priority, the lack of which will continue to see Nigeria in state of insecurity and confusion.
For the avoidance of this, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto and Amirul Mu’mineen of Nigeria, since his ascension to the throne on November 2, 2006 has painstakingly taken the peace, unity and development project closest to his heart and soul.
By this well effective effort, Nigeria has a great deal of testimony to give but with unpatriotic politicalism on the part of some political players, there is still a long distance to cover, which is reason the Sultan chose his Sallah message at Eid-ul-Adha last Sunday as fitting avenue to reiterate the need for Nigerians to live together in peace as, according to regular adminision by the Chairman Nigeria’s National Traditional Rulers Council (TRCN), Nigerians are better together understanding and not just tolerating one another than split.
According to observers of events, very despicable, unguarded and, more divisive comments have flew out from the mouths and pens of some supposed leaders of thought who, against expectations of their being elder statesmen, have allowed themselves to be enmeshed in disintegration project for no other reason but self good.
But with continuous adminisions from religious and traditional leaders of thought with the will for better society and regular self assessments by citizens, the Sultan in many of his comments from past to present believes Nigeria can be truly great as a nation.
Perhaps it was for this reason, on just concluded Sallah day, that he urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of godliness and peaceful coexistence in their relationships during the Eid-ul-Adha celebrations and beyond.
Sultan Abubakar gave the advice in his Sallah message to Nigerians delivered in Sokoto on Sunday, at celebration also attended by His Excellency Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
On his part in a statewide broadcast, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, urged all to imbibe the lessons in the submission to the will of Allah by Prophet Ibrahim.
Tambuwal stated that “Eid-de-kabir should be a period for renewing the spirit of compassion to fellow man and sacrifice in the service of society.”
It is traditional after returning from Eid, the Sultan drives straight to the Palace Arcade for a huge Durbar already beaming with life and all the glitters and excitements that come with festivity as vital as that of animal sacrificing Eid-ul-Adha.
The Durbar is attended by Governor Tambuwal and his deputy Alhaji Muniru Dan Eya, who could not attend being the Amirul Hajj presently coordinating the affairs of Sokoto State pilgrims in far away Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Other very important dignitaries from among national and state figures indigenous of Sokoto State are also in attendance to be part of the festivities celebrating with their all-encompassing King, the Sultan.
At the Durbar, thousands of people ranging from local hunters, professionals, princes, chiefs and Kaakaki flute blowers matched past with compliments in adoration of their Sultan, who thereafter addressed the subjects and guests in Hausa and then retired (but not ended) the Sallah events into his Palace.
Next after the Durbar was for the Sultan to play host to the Governor of the State, who since over four years now has been Rt. Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and wh, this last Sallah, paid homage to the Nigeria’s number one king.
Next to the governor’s homage visit was for the host to lead his guests to the more expansive hall where the only thing that took place was eat, drink, shake hands, exchange pleasantries and depart.
By tradition, the Sultan thereafter withdraws into the Palace Council Chambers where he chats with his chiefs including the Waziri, Galadima of Sokoto and then closes for the day. All of these were not left out from the Eid-ul-Adha celebration that took place in Sokoto, Nigeria’s indisputably most peaceful and hospitable society, last Sunday of Dhul-Hijjah 10, 1440AH equivalent to August 11, 2019.
In the meantime, in furtherance to his effort of making Nigerians of various backgrounds see the ability in their diversity, the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman, Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria, will be visiting Akure Kingdom in Akure, the Ondo State capital on a two-day working visit as Chief guest speaker at the Annual Ulefunta Lecture, holding at the Main Auditorium of Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) on Monday September 9, 2019.
The Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi Odundun II, in a bid to secure the Sultan’s assurance on physically coming to deliver the annual lecture, had paid him a three-day working visit in Sokoto during which the Sultan, General Sa’ad Abubakar (Rtd), and Governor Tambuwal let loose the kings of honour, which included troupes of Sokoto State Arts and Culture and Palace entertainment contingents, as mark of respect to the Akure, Yoruba Land king.
