Sultan of Sokoto marks 20 years on throne as Muslim media group praises his peace work
- Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar became the 20th Sultan on November 2, 2006.
- The anniversary coincided with the Sheikh Usmanu Dan Fodio week that ended in Sokoto on November 2.
- The Muslim Media Presidents of Nigeria group praised his commitment to peace and unity.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar, has marked 20 years on the throne, with a Muslim media body praising his two decades of work for peace and unity in Nigeria.
He became the 20th Sultan on November 2, 2006, after the death of his elder brother, Sultan Muhammadu Maccido, according to Daily Trust. He is also President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and of Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI).
The anniversary coincided with the 13th Sheikh Usmanu Dan Fodio Week, Tribune reported. A week of events closed with a grand finale in Sokoto on November 2.
What the media body said
The Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) felicitated with the Sultan in a statement by its National President, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun. The Sultan is the group's grand patron.
Balogun said the 20 years had been marked by "dignity, wisdom and a strong commitment to peace and unity." He said the Sultan has used his voice to encourage dialogue, tolerance and mutual respect among Nigerians of different faiths.
"At a time when the country faces difficult moments, those messages have often provided reassurance," Balogun said.
The group also thanked the Sultan for his support of Muslim journalists and for recognising the media's role in promoting understanding and peaceful coexistence.
Daily Trust, in a tribute, traced the Sultan's path before the throne: schooling at Barewa College, Zaria, and the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1975. He served as a military officer in several Nigerian towns and abroad, including Chad and Sierra Leone, and later as Nigeria's defence attaché to Pakistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. He retired from the army as a Brigadier General.
Why it matters
The Sultan is widely seen as the spiritual leader of Muslims in Nigeria, and his statements on tolerance and dialogue carry weight at a time of tension over faith and security. For many Nigerians, his voice is one of the few that speaks across religious lines.
The MMPN prayed for his continued good health, wisdom and strength, and joined the Sultanate Council and the people of Sokoto in celebrating the milestone.
