When Sultan Abubakar clocked 60

On August 24, 2016, the Sultan of  Sokoto and president  of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar, clocked 60 years of age. Though the day passed like any other at the palace, where there is usually no programme of activity to commemorate birthdays, the local and national media were inundated […]

On August 24, 2016, the Sultan of  Sokoto and president  of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar, clocked 60 years of age. Though the day passed like any other at the palace, where there is usually no programme of activity to commemorate birthdays, the local and national media were inundated with words of felicitation for the distinguished royal father.
The religious leader, whose efforts towards sustainable peace and unity in Nigeria are widely acknowledged, is variously described as a bridge builder, peace ambassador, promoter of religious tolerance and understanding, advocate of national unity and stability, voice of the voiceless and an uncommon leader.
Malam Nasiru Danladi Bako, the Kugunan Sokoto, sums up the personality and leadership style of the monarch thus: “He is a disciplined religious and traditional leader who knows what it takes to be revered and brave. He is a leader of the Muslims, not just in Nigeria but West Africa. According to recent statistics, the Sultan is about the number 16 most influential religious leaders in the world.
“I want to describe him as someone who searches for information. He looks for the best for his people, he looks for the best for Islam, he looks for every opportunity to propagate Islam.He looks at the world as a race and propagates exactly what he has been preaching all the while.”
Malam Bako said the  Sultan always preached peace and unity among Nigerians. “Almost all these years, he has lived among Christians, so he understands the blend between Christianity and Islam. That is why God has used him as an instrument for searching, promoting and propagating peace in the country. He has said on many occasions that a lot of people who have no idea of what war is all about are the ones that make a lot of noise .
He knows what war is all about, having served in the armoured corps. That’s why he preaches peace all the time, saying it is better than war.
Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar ascended the exalted throne in November, 2006 at the golden age of 50.
As a soldier, the Sultan was  the head of a presidential security unit of the armoured corps that guarded the former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida.
Sultan Abubakar’s peace undertakings started during his days in the military. He had commanded a battalion of African peacekeepers in Chad as part of the Organisation of African Unity’s force. He was the head of the ECOMOG peace keeping mission in Liberia and Sierra Leone. He also served as Defence Attaché to Pakistan.
A member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Nigeria’s foremost think-tank for policymakers, the widely travelled leader has been across Nigeria and out of the country clamouring for peace and unity among different leanings.
He promoted inter-religious dialogue through the Nigeria Interreligious Council and is enhancing efforts towards harmonious coexistence among Muslims and Christians, with an interfaith Centre for Documentation, Peace and Reconciliation, inaugurated in January this year.
Last year, the 60-year-old monarch was listed among the 10 recipients of the maiden edition of the Global Seal of Integrity (GSOI) award.
Also, in a recent book on 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar was considered the 16th.
The Amirul Mumineen has been emphasizing on good leadership. To this end, he has embarked on the publication and distribution of many literary works on leadership, written by scholars of the Sokoto Caliphate.
The Sultan, who is almost 10 years on the throne, has made some improvements on some activities at the palace. Charity, they say, begins at home. Among other things, Sultan Abubakar is noted to have fostered unity among the princes of varying royal houses.This is especially pronounced on Sallah days when they converge on the palace to take part in the traditional ‘Hawan Sallah’. The princes select a leader among them to lead the procession, unlike before when they were allowed to go their separate ways.
With almost a decade on the saddle as Sultan, his close aides say he demonstrates good leadership.
“We are very much happy and contented being close to the Sultan. He is selfless, considerate analytical, simple, thoughtful and supportive to the less privileged,” one of them stated.
Many Nigerians  admitted that his standpoints on various issues, which cut across all facets of life,  encouraged them to look at things from grand perspectives.
Below are some of his thoughts which many have particularly made reference to.

Peace
“Without peace we can never progress, develop or enjoy the fruits of this life. Above all, without it we cannot serve our creator the way He ordained.”

Truth
“Religious leaders should tell the truth. We should be told when we do the right thing, and we should be told when we go astray. This is better for us as such efforts should guide us rather than praise-singing to us.”

Religious tolerance
“We are Nigerians by virtue of God’s creation, so we must continue to look at ourselves as brothers. We should love one another as we are created by one God despite our different tribes and religions.”

Message for Muslims
“Our good deeds, good actions and good interactions as Muslims will give that very bright light to everybody what Islam is. That is what brings people to join us.”

Toga of terrorism
“In any society, there are many terribly bad people. So many who are not Muslims carry out criminal activities with some Muslim organisations in America, France and Nigeria.
“Those people doing negative things should be called criminals or terrorists, not Muslims.
“I have never heard of Christian terrorists but we have heard of so many Christians or followers of other religions who committed heinous crimes against humanity.
“But they didn’t claim to do it for their religions and we did not hold them against their religions.”

Dialogue
“To find solutions to Nigeria’s problems, we must come together and talk to one another. The more we talk to one another, the more we understand one another. I believe strongly in the application of dialogue to settling all issues.
“We believe in dialogue. Whatever the problem is with anybody, we believe we should sit down and discuss and a solution will be found.”

Education
‘‘Education is the only key to success, and no nation can fully develop without according it priority attention.’’

Girl-child
“We believe an educated girl is better in bringing up a better family and citizenry to the world because we all know the importance of our mothers.
“An educated woman is more an asset than an uneducated one, or even an educated man. You must be knowledgeable to lead. To rule you must be knowledgeable.”

Wellbeing of the masses
“Premium should always be placed on the welfare of Nigerians. We must continue to re-examine ourselves to ensure that we do that which is right for a better Nigeria.”