PHOTO NEWS: Sultan of Sokoto attends coronation anniversary prayers for Alake in Abeokuta

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, graced the special prayers organised by the Egba Muslim Community as part of the 20th Coronation Anniversary of the Alake of Egba Land, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, in the Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Friday November 14, 2025.

The Sultan, who was accompanied by His Royal Highness Dr. Muhammad Jabi Kilgori, Senior Counsellor Sultanate Council Sokoto and Sai Kilgori Sokoto, and His Royal Highness Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Bambado II, Sarki Fulani of Lagos and Chairman Council of Fulani Chiefs in South West Nigeria, was joined by Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, his Deputy President-General (South) of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and President Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria, and His Excellency Chief Sarafa Tunji Isola, the immediate past Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Other top leaders at the event aside the celebrated, Oba Aremu Gbadebo himself and his Olori, included Navy Captain Rasheed Raji (Rtd), the former Military Governor of Bauchi State (1994-1996) and Sokoto State (1996-1998) and and Baba Adinni of Egba Land, Hon. Razaq Dada, a Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, and many other dignitaries including traditional, religious and political leaders.

Speaking, the visiting Sultan, who is also the Chairman, National Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria (NTRCN), described such as event as in honour of the Alake as a must-attend for him, not only because of his colleague in the Army and traditional rulership council in the country but also, more importantly, because of the need to continue to ensure a good handshake “with one another as brothers and sisters” across the Nigeria.

“He (Oba Gbadebo) became the Alake 20 years ago. He was barely one year on the throne when I became the Sultan. And when I was told about this event, I prayed to Almighty Allah to make possible for me to attend and, alhamdulillahi, we are able to be here today. We pray to Almighty to continue to have leaders like him and continue to strengthen him while we wish him 20 more years, 20 more years and 20 more years,” he prayed and the hall went up in rowsing applause and the Sultan added, “Almighty gives us what he wants and takes it when wants. So you just say Amen when I wish him many more 20 years on the throne.”

Specifically recognising the es pirit de corps that binds him together with the sitting Alake, he thanked one of the best Nigerian military governors Ogun State has ever contributed to the building of the country, Navy Captain Rasheed Raji (Rtd), nothing how it did not take much time for him to accept the invitation to grace the occasion in that regard.

“We thank our former governor (of Sokoto State) Raji, who was in Sokoto some few days ago, who reminded me about this programme and wanted to confirm if I was going to make it. I said ‘Well, you were in the military, he was in the military and myself in the military. Inshallah I am going to be there.’ and alhamdulillahi I am here. I also thank all the chiefs and most especially the Chief Imam (Egba Land).

“And I thank all the leaders here for your continued support for the Alake. I urge you to continue to advise him and he continues to consult you, that is leadership. And whatever you want to do as a leader, consult the people to know what you want to do for them because you are serving people, not people serving you and continue to do your best because we would continue to move closer to one another as brothers and sisters.

“I thank Allah for this day of the 20th coronation anniversary of our brother, the Allah. Next year too, we will be marking our 20 years on the throne as Sultan of Sokoto and I tell everybody, all the ulamas, al the chiefs, who want to come, come, we have enough space to take you and we need your prayers,” the Sultan said in his goodwill message at the event.

An apparently elated Alake, resounding to the Sultan, described the August visitor as “Son of a Sultan, brother of a Sultan, a grandson of a Sultan, you can go on and on until you get to his great, great grandfather, Usman Dan Fodio” and thanked him for taking him and his people seriously by coming from his high throne in Sokoto down to Abeokuta to attend the event that was part of the celebration of his 20th anniversary on the throne.

“Many of you may not know that Sultan once served here in Abeokuta when he was a serving military officer and God has brought him back here but as the head of the Islamic Ummah of Nigeria and beyond. God will continue to help, protect and guide his way.

“Nigeria will never break. We will continue to treat ourselves as brothers and sisters. By the grace of God, there will be no religious war in Nigeria. Forward ever and backward never, Amiin,” the Alake prayed.

In his vote of thank, His Excellency Chief Sarafa Tunji Isola said, who saw it all from the beginning from the planning to coronation 20 years ago when the Alake was enthroned, expressed his appreciation to the Almighty Allah that he was excited to know that what he served as chairman planning committee to bring alive that time has reached 20 years and still counting.

He thanked the Alake for his excellent traditional leadership and commended the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, for his exemplary leadership as a multifaceted leader contributing peace, unity and development to the building of the nation, and thanked others who attended and wished them safe return to their respective destinations.

The Sultan later had a stop over at the Governor’s lodge where he was received by Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, assisted by former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, former Sokoto State Governor Rasheed Rasheed Raji, his Secretary to the State Governor and other top government functionaries, before he departed the state sane Friday.

See photos from the events below: