Sultan of Sokoto to visit Ayede Saturday, as Ekiti community beams with joy expecting Africa’s fourth most influential King
* Alhamdulillahi for the great privilege of hosting Sultan – Attah of Ayede
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III is to visit Ayede Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area Ekiti State, on Saturday November 18, 2018.
The DEFENDER had reported authoritatively, on Wednesday, that the Africa’s number four most influential monarch would visit the Ekiti community either on Friday after the University of Ibadan convocation event or Saturday as it could not confirm which of the days but promised to report back after signal had been received indicating the particular day.
The Sultan himself confirmed to a very reliable source through a phone call Thursday night that, “I will be coming to Ayede Ekiti on Saturday. Tell my friend Attah that I will leave Ibadan 7am in the morning for his kingdom,” he said.
With this confirmation transmitted to the community whose traditional ruler, the Attah, Oba Alhaji Abdul Mumini Adebayo Orisagbemi, had been in high spirit trying to get signal confirming the Sultan’s visit, it was like hearing the Seriki Musulumi’s much awaited declaration of new moonsighting for the commencement and ending of Ramadan fast as jubilation sparked through the streets of the kingdom particularly in the Palace of the Attah.
Sultan, who had been so busy touring parts of Nigeria in continuation of his commitment to ensuring peace, harmony and development efforts among Nigerian people, had left Sokoto since over two weeks ago and had been working non-stop until the plane conveying him from Abuja, the nation’s capital territory, touched the ground at the Ibadan Airport in the afternoon of Thursday.
He is in the South West of Nigeria to perform his official duty as Chancellor of the University of Ibadan at the 2015/2016 convocation ceremony, which holds in the premises of the Nigeria’s premier university on Friday.
When Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III performs Friday November 17, 2017 function as presiding officer at the institution’s convocation, it will be exactly two years that he was installed by President Muhammadu Buhari represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, having been installed on November 17, 2015.
He will leave Ibadan very early on Saturday for Ayede Ekiti being a leader, who walks his talks and never fails in his promises to the best of his capacity.
He had since 2nd day of Eidul-Adha celebration on September 2 this year sent a word to the Attah of Ayede, who he calls “My friend” that he would be coming to visit him from Ibadan.
Attah Abdul Mumini Orisegbemi is one of 16 topmost Kings (Pelu Pelu) of Ekiti monarchy system, who claims everywhere that “Sultan is my Spiritual Leader.”
Back home in Ayede, vicinity of the ancient palace of the Attah of Ayede Ekiti including the Central Mosque fondly called the Mosque of the King has been painted new with students of secondary and primary schools respectively in the ancient community warming up to line the road on arrival in welcoming the greatness, that Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III represents, to the Ayede Kingdom.
That is even as hunters and traditional dancers are prepared already to welcome the topmost monarch in Nigeria, who is equally the world’s number 17 most influential Muslim, on his visit to the community.
Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III will be accompanied by high power personalities including his Deputy President-General (South), Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sakariyau Olayiwola Babalola, the Galadiman Sokoto, Alhaji Aliyu Attahiru, the Head of Media of NSCIA, Alhaji Femi Abbas, among many others.
The Leader of the Sokoto Caliphate will be received at the Palace by the Attah of Ayede, who is Chairman of Council of Obas Oye Local Government, Ekiti State, and will be assisted by senior monarchs in his council, members of the Attah-in-Council, former Minister of Mines and Steel Development who is Baba Adinni of Nigeria-designate, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Ishola, President-General, League of Imams and Alfas, South West, Edo and Delta and many others.
A team of chiefs led by Bashorun of Ayede will be dispatched to receive the Sultan and his entourage at Oye junction and will lead the convoy of the great man to Ayede community.
