Sultan of Sokoto due in Ibadan for UI convocation

*Ayede Ekiti painted new ready for visit of Nigeria’s number one King

*Secondary, primary schools’ students to line the road in welcoming Sultan to Ekiti community

*As Attah says “my spiritual leader deserves our best in preparation”

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, in his capacity as Chancellor of University of Ibadan, will be physically present at this year’s convocation of the nation’s premier university, holding on Friday November 17.

The DEFENDER can authoritatively report.

The Sultan, who is President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), will preside over the UI 2015/2016 convocation where, for the first time in 69 years, the university will be presenting its first graduate with a First Class honours degree in History.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Idowu Olayinka, said Ozibo Ekele of the Department of History was one of the 186 students who earned First Class degrees at the 2015/2016 convocation ceremonies, which began Monday in Ibadan.

Mr. Olayinka said 5,629 students graduated in various academic programmes from 12 faculties, including the Distance Learning Centre at the convocation.

According to him, 186 passed with first class honours, 1,538 finished with Second Class Upper, while 3,133 finished with Second Class Lower.

Similarly, 434 students finished with Third Class, while 81 others graduated with Pass degrees.

The VC enjoined the graduates to be good ambassadors of the university, saying they should impact positively on their world.

He remarked that the students would have graduated a long time ago but for the strike embarked upon by the academic and non-academic staff unions.

According to him, the breakdown of the graduating list showed that 3.5 per cent and 28.6 per cent finished with First Class and Second Class (Upper) honours, respectively.

“I am aware that there has been strident public criticism of the large number of first class graduates from our universities.

…Ayede Ekiti painted new ready for Sariki Musulumi’s visit

This media outfit learned that the Sultan, before returning to Sokoto, will pay a visit to Ayede Ekiti, whose king, Oba Alhaji Abdul Mumini Adebayo Orisagbemi, is Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers in Oye Local Government, Ekiti State.

What The DEFENDER however cannot vividly report is whether the visit to Ayede will be immediately after the UI convocation on Friday or, due to tediousness that will likely result from long activity at the Ibadan event for a world class monarch that is also among first 17 most influential Muslims in the world, he will relax in Ibadan for the rest of Friday and proceed to Ibadan Saturday morning.

A former Senator who had earlier met with the Sultan in Abuja had however hinted that the Nigeria’s number trado-religious leader told him that he would be visiting Ayede Ekiti on Saturday November 18.

A source very close to the Sultan, on Wednesday, told The DEFENDER that whether the visit to Ayede will take place on Friday or Saturday will become clear on Thursday when the Sultan and his entourage arrive at Ibadan ahead of the convocation.

A source however confided in our correspondent that, “His Eminence may have to be sure of what the programme of the convocation that is his main reason in the South West will be like on Friday before he determine when to leave for Ayede Ekiti. That will definitely be determinable by Thursday,” he said.

In a press release distributed to the press but withdrawn due to lack of clarity in day of visit, Media Consultant on Media and Publicity to the Attah of Ayede Kingdom, Prince Bashir Adefaka, had  informed that “His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and Seriki Musulumi of Nigeria, will pay a one-day official visit as guest of His Majesty Oba Alhaji AbdulMumini Adebayo Orisagbemi, the Attah and Paramount Ruler of Ayede Kingdom, at the weekend.”

Recall that the Sultan had been represented by his Deputy President-General (South) of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sakariyau Olayiwola Babalola, at event of the Attah on August 15, 2016. He had since then promised to find a time to personally visit to see things for himself in the community formed by an Ibadan General, Esubiyi, among whose son is ancestral lineage of the sitting monarch, who is equally the Chairman Ekiti State Council of Muslim Traditional Rulers, Abdul Mumini.

“Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III will be accompanied by high power personalities and members of the media community are highly solicited to support the Attah in giving the Sultan a befitting coverage and publicity,” Prince Bashir Adefaka had said in the withdrawn statement.

Back home in Ayede, vicinity of the ancient palace of the Attah of Ayede Ekiti has  been painted new with students and of secondary and primary schools respectively in the ancient community warming up to line the road in welcoming the greatness that Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III represents to the Ayede Kingdom on arrival.

That is even as hunters and traditional dancers are prepared already to welcome the topmost monarch in Nigeria on his visit to the community.

A big cow was sighted Wednesday eveningat the Attah’s Palace in preparation for the Sultan’s visit.

When asked what the cow was meant for, the Attah of Ayede Oba Orisagbemi told our correspondent that, “How can my spiritual leader, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, visits my humble kingdom and I cannot even buy a cow to entertain him? He deserves even to be entertained with more,” Attah said.