After leaving Sokoto State on Wednesday 23 January 2019, President of Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) left for nearby Kebbi State.
On arrival in Kebbi where he was received by the Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the President and his entourage drove to the Palace of Sarki and Emir of Gwandu. By history, Emir of Gwandu (Abdullahi) is younger brother to Sultan of Sokoto (Sheikh Uthman Dan Fodio) and on that historical line they both remain till today.
The visit of Buhari to Sultan Palace and Palace of Emir of Gwandu therefore was more like following the root of history. Abdullahi, who became the Emir of Gwandu as younger brother of Uthman Dan Fodio, originally was Wazirin Sokoto but turned out later to have moved a distant away from the Seat of Caliphate in obedience to written instruction of the elder brother.
It is the reason on homage to Sokoto’s Palace, the sitting Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar would crack joke to the Emir of Gwandu Alhaji Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar, facing the current Waziri of Sokoto Prof Sambo Junaidu, and say, “This (pointing to the Emir) is my real Waziri”.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit last Wednesday, though political, therefore to Sokoto followed by Kebbi was a serious reminder of the cord linking both the Sultanate and the Gwandu Emirate together.
At
the Palace in Gwandu
At the
Palace in Gwandu, the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar, during
the courtesy, conferred on President Muhammadu Buhari the traditional title of
Sadaukan Gwandu, after the President had hinted him the purpose of his visit in
the state.
The Emir, like Sultan, also offered prayers and guidance to the president and politicians after when President Buhari and his entourage drove straight to the campaign ground where mammoth crowd were already waiting for them.
The president, who arrived Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport (SABIA), Birnin Kebbi at 1.50pm from Sokoto, was welcomed by mammoth crowd from the airport to the town.
The crowd, including school children, workers, traders, farmers, tricycle riders, among others, took to the street, chanting “Sai Baba”.
Members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), from 21 Local Government Areas of the state and party supporters were also seen colourfully dressed to receive the President.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported Kebbi State Chairman of Buhari/Bagudu Support Organisation (BBSO), Alhaji Umar Dan- Fari, as saying that the President’s visit was a welcome development.
He said that the organisation was on ground to receive him because of his developmental strides in the country.
Among those on ground receiving the President were youths, different Buhari support organisations, women associations, NURTW and NARTO members, traders and marketers’ associations, among others.
It was a spark of judication galore in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, afternoon of Wednesday 23 January 2019 as the President arrived after campaigning Sokoto in continuation of his re-election campaigns.
