ROYAL VISIT: Why I visited Aiyede Ekiti, Sultan declares as he educates Nigerians on dealing with challenges
*Says challenges are inevitable experience by Allah to make one better
Precisely 75 days after his visit to a Nigerian community of Aiyede Ekiti not in the know of many to be worth of visit of a high profile personality like him, the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the National Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria (NTRCN), his disclosed that he visited the community to prove a point that it is not the size of the town or village that is important but the size of the commitment of the person who is the leader of the community and his belief in God and, to prove further therefore, that no one is bigger than the other in the sight of God Almighty.
The Sultan, who stated this while receiving the leader of the community, the Attah of Aiyede Kingdom, who currently is Chairman, Oye Local Government Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Alhaji Abdul-Mumini Adebayo Orisagbemi, at his Palace in Sokoto, on Thursday, said there was no place for any Nigerian community or person to think that it or he is bigger than the other as, according to the leader of over 90 million Muslims of Nigeria, understanding one another was better as tool for solidifying cordial relationship and fostering unity and peace among the large population like Nigeria than the unpopular saying of need to tolerate one another.
Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III said, “I keep on saying that I don’t have to tolerate somebody but I want to understand you. Therefore, if I understand you and you understand me, we become better friends. There won’t be any fight between us because we have understood one another. It is important for us to continue to learn from one another and we will continue to learn from each other, everyday of our lives until we die. We will continue to learn and we will never stop learning,” He said in a six minute unscripted speech he delivered in response to the Attah, who said he was in Sokoto for a “Thank You Visit” to the Sultan in further appreciation of his visit to his Aiyede Ekiti community on Saturday November 18, 2017.
The apparently delighted Sultan assured his visitor that, “In us you have a very strong partner. You can count on us. We will always be there for you as you plan things that will make your kingdom better and better. We visited to prove a point that it is not the size of the town or village that is important but the size of the commitment of the person, who is the leader there and his belief in Almighty Allah. That was why we did that trip, a very long trip from Ibadan to Aiyede Ekiti. When some people talked to ask why we should be there, I told them it was a duty having promised you, you have been here, and also to open more doors and understanding between us because, the more you understand somebody, the better you are pleased to work with him and respect him the more.”
He seized the opportunity to urge Nigerians, rather than misunderstanding challenges in other way which make them misapply solution, to see challenges as things that one must have to be better placed for greatness in life.
“So, I think it is important that we have challenges. In the country we have challenges. When we understand our challenges, we will wake up and deal with those challenges. Nothing, I repeat, nothing is above Almighty Allah. And when Almighty Allah sets challenges for us to make us better people, we should understand therefore that whatever comes to us as a challenge from Almighty Allah, we accept it wholeheartedly and we face it squarely,” he said.
Attah Abdul-Mumini Orisagbemi was accompanied on the visit by his wife, Olori Kudirat Orisagbemi, the Olumojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Olatunji Samuel Olusola (Ph.D), Bashorun of Aiyede Ekiti, Chief Sola Adewumi, his wife, Erelu of Aiyede Ekiti, Chief Kemi Adewumi, Chief Imam of Aiyede Ekiti, Imam Babalola, and nine others
The Sultan speech in details:
“We thank Allah for bringing you and your entourage safely and we pray Him to take you back safely at the end of your stay here.
“We are always happy when see our brothers coming from other parts of the country coming to Sokoto to see us. And we always urge them not to get tired and also urge them to stay as long as possible and this visit will further demonstrate the love between us, first as Muslims then secondly as traditional leaders in this great country.
“The Attah made a comment that we always treat everybody as equal. But that is what Almighty Allah says; we are all equal before Him. So, for anybody to start showing that He is better, bigger and richer than the other person, I think He is just playing to the gallery.
“And we will continue showing to the world that we love each other no matter what anybody says anywhere. We will continue showing to the world that we respect each other because we continue to believe we all equal. Your coming here once more to thank us for visiting your domain is a further testimony of that belief in all of us that, as Muslims, we are brothers to one another and, as a brother to you and also to you as my brother, we will continue to work hand-in-hand to ensure that we discharge our responsibilities that God Almighty placed on our shoulders as leaders.
“In us you have a very strong partner. You can count on us. We will always be there for you as you plan things that will make your kingdom better and better. We visited to prove a point that it is not size of the town or village that is important but the size of the commitment of the person who is the leader there and his belief in Almighty Allah. That was why we did that trip, a very long trip from Ibadan to Aiyede Ekiti. When some people thought why should we be there but I told them it was a duty having promised you, you have been here for three times and also to open more doors and understanding between us because, the more you understand somebody, the better you are pleased to work with him and respect him the more.
“I keep on saying I don’t have to tolerate somebody but I want to understand you. Therefore, if I understand you and you understand me, we become better friends. There won’t be any fight between us because we have understood one another. It is important for us to continue to learn from one another and we will continue to learn from each other everyday of our lives until we die. We will continue to learn and we will never stop learning.
“So, we thank you for this visit. We thank you for coming home because we feel this is your home. You can come anytime you want to come and I will always be happy to receive you, and not only you, all the Bashoruns, all the Oloris and everybody who wants to come here. This is home for all and we open our doors anywhere we are. We want to tell you that you are most welcome to reach out to us on any issue that you feel we could help because, as brothers we should be helping one another. Nobody has everything right in the world. We all have our challenges and once we understand our challenges, I think, we are better equipped to deal with those challenges. And if you don’t have challenges, you can’t be a better person in life. The more challenges you have challenges, the more you will be up and doing to deal with those challenges and the better person you become therefore.
“So, I think it is important that we have challenges. In the country we have challenges. When we understand our challenges, we will wake up and deal with those challenges. Nothing, I repeat, nothing is above Almighty Allah. And when Almighty Allah sets challenges for us to make us better people, we should understand therefore that whatever comes to us as a challenge from Almighty Allah, we accept it wholeheartedly and we face it squarely.
“I want to ensure you and my other distinguished brothers and sisters, you are most welcome back home. Please feel free. This is home and be as comfortable as you could be. When there are little challenges in your comfort, let us know so that we can make it better. But we are very delighted to receive you once again and we want to see you more and more and we also promise you we will continue to see you there in Aiyede Ekiti as often as Almighty Allah pleases; and you can be rest assured that we are partners in progress, we are brothers as Muslims, we are brothers as traditional leaders and equal before Almighty Allah sub’anauwatahala. And I believe once we understand this, we would have no problem. So, we thank you for coming once more.
“We thank members of your entourage for taking time to be with you and we request you to stay as long as you want and when you are ready to depart, may Almighty Allah sub’anauwatahala take you back safely. Thank you very much, wasalamu alaykum waramotullahi wabarakatuhu.”
