Tinubu Celebrates Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar at 70, Hails Him as Voice of Stability, Unity
By KEMI KASUMU
Tinubu said the Sultan’s 70 years represented a life dedicated to service, wisdom and grace, particularly during his nearly two decades on the throne of his forebears.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, on his 70th birthday.
In a statement personally signed by him on Monday, August 24, 2026, President Tinubu described the Sultan as a stabilising voice, bridge-builder and moral compass whose influence extends beyond the Muslim community.
Tinubu said the Sultan’s 70 years represented a life dedicated to service, wisdom and grace, particularly during his nearly two decades on the throne of his forebears.
“Your seventy years are a testament to a life lived in service, wisdom, and grace. For nearly two decades on the throne of your forebears, you have embodied the finest traditions of the Sokoto Caliphate: scholarship, humility, and an unwavering commitment to peace,” the President said.
He commended Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar for his contributions to peace, national unity and understanding among Nigeria’s diverse religious and ethnic communities.
According to Tinubu, the Sultan has consistently provided counsel during difficult periods and emerged as “a stabilising voice in times of turbulence, a bridge-builder across faiths and communities, and a moral compass” for both the Muslim Ummah and the wider Nigerian society.
The President also praised the Sultanate’s contributions to education, interfaith dialogue and humanitarian activities, as well as the Sultan’s advocacy for peaceful coexistence, the girl-child and the dignity of Nigerians.
Tinubu described the monarch, at 70, as a “towering figure of conscience and counsel,” noting that the Sultan’s words command respect across the country.
He said the Sultan’s palace in Sokoto had increasingly become a platform for dialogue, reconciliation and the exchange of ideas on issues affecting the nation.
“In moments of grief, you comfort. In moments of division, you unite. In moments of doubt, you remind us of our common humanity and our common destiny as one people under God,” Tinubu said.
The President further acknowledged the Sultan’s partnership with the Federal Government in areas including national security, community development and the spiritual well-being of Nigerians.
“As President, I deeply value your partnership in nation-building. Your security support, community development, and the spiritual well-being of our people strengthen the fabric of our republic. Nigeria needs more of the wisdom you so generously offer,” he said.
Tinubu prayed that Allah would grant the Sultan many more years in good health, sound mind and strength to continue serving the people and the country.
He also prayed for the monarch’s continued preservation for his family, the Sokoto Caliphate and Nigeria, while wishing that his reign would remain a source of blessing, guidance and honour.
“Your Eminence, congratulations once again. May this new decade of your life be your most rewarding yet,” the President said.
Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III ascended the throne in 2006 and has remained one of Nigeria’s prominent traditional and Islamic leaders, particularly on issues of national unity, interfaith relations and peaceful coexistence.
His 70th birthday has attracted congratulatory messages from political leaders, traditional rulers, religious organisations and Nigerians across the country.
