Ooni of Ife lauds Sultan’s bridge building, unifying efforts, as ACF holds 25th anniversary in Kaduna
*Founding fathers of Northern Nigeria recognised ‘understanding our differences to understand each other better’ for common good – Sultan of Sokoto
By KEMI KASUMU
The Yoruba’s leading monarch acknowledged the bridge building and unifying efforts of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who according to him spent seven days touring the Southwest states last week.
The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman National Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has described the idea of founding fathers of Northern Region in the marriage called Nigeria as one that recognises the diversity of the people as area of strength rather than being weapon of division.
He spoke while delivering the keynote address as a special guest of honour at the 25th Anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), held in Kaduna, capital of the defunct Northern Region on Saturday November 22, 2025.
Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, a Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) and Member of the National Institute (mni), was speaking in Kaduna, 48 hours after concluding a weeklong national bridge-building assignments in the South West, during which he touched Iwo Land on 10th coronation anniversary of the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi Telu I, attended the 2025 General Assembly of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), performed the combined convocation and 77th founder’s ceremonies of Nigeria’s premier academy of higher learning, the University of Ibadan, as Chancellor, and payed his first visit to His Imperial Majesty Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja Arusa I, since the former Oyo State Governor ascended the throne as the Olubadan of Ibadan.
As a common message during his meetings in the South West, the Sarki Musulumi of Nigeria was clear about the fact that “Nigerians can be united but cannot necessarily be uniform.”
At the Kaduna’s all-important meeting of the ACF, the 69-year-old multifaceted leader appreciated the large turnout of key stakeholders and other participants in a way that, according to him, signified the importance and impact of the Forum in promoting unity and development of North and Nigeria.
“This indicates that we are still working on the dictates of the founding fathers of the North that believe in ‘let’s understand our differences so that we can understand each other better’ to unite and work together for our common good,” he said.
The Sultan said the quality of figures in attendance at Sunday’s ACF meeting also was an indication, “That there can be unity without uniformity” using it as a source of strength for the diverse peoples of Nigeria.
He urged the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to take stock of its achievements during the last 25 years bearing in mind the much needed task of planning and strategising for greater achievements and impact in another 25 years to come, especially on the daunting challenges of insecurity and other vices facing the North and Nigeria at large.
The DEFENDER, which monitored the event from Lagos, reports that although the meeting was mainly Northern affairs, the accommodating spirit of the North and the Sultan saw the need for members of Southern communities to be present in exercisation of concurrence of the leaders with diversity of Nigeria as source of its strength.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, who attended in invitation the Arewa people’s event traveling from far away South West Nigeria, reiterated and appreciated the unity and strength of the North within greater Nigeria in handling its challenges.
The Yoruba’s leading monarch acknowledged the bridge building and unifying efforts of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who according to him spent seven days touring the Southwest states last week.
The Ooni was presented ACF award as an outstanding advocate of unity in diversity in Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu was represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
Highlights of the event included the N100 billion Endowment Fund, launched by the Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdus-Samad Rabiu, with donation of N5 billion on behalf of himself and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, both from Kano and biggest contributors to continental and national economies and employment of labour in Lagos, Kano, Sokoto and across Africa.
The occasion, held at the Yar’Adua Hall in Kaduna on Saturday November 22, 2025, was attended by critical stakeholders from 19 Northern states and beyond.
