By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll, has been commended for his efforts and contributions towards ensuring that ignorance and terrorism are stamped out in Nigeria.
The Sultan, who is the President General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Chairman, National Council for Traditional Rulers, was also lauded for the promotion of knowledge and unity among Nigerians.
The commendation was made by the Islamic Scholars of Ilorin Emirate in a letter signed by the First Mallami Ubandoma of Ilorin Emirate (The Grand Sheikh), Dr. Abdulkadir Salman, on the heels of the Sultan’s visit to Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.
Dr Abdulkadir lauded the Sultan for his strives in the fight against Terrorism in the country as well as promotion of peaceful coexistence among the people.
“Your fight against ignorance and terrorism coupled with your relentless promotion of knowledge, unity as well as peaceful coexistence among the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is well noted and appreciated. Your consistent stance for goodness and righteousness would continue to be emulated by us”, the Islamic Scholar added.
He expressed his admiration for the Sultan’s love and compassion for ordinary people and described him as a pious and fascinating leader of the Nigerian Muslim community.
“I always marvel at your passion, compassion and affection for the ordinary people. It is a reflection of your piety and the gene Your Eminence inherited from the founder of Sokoto caliphate and the leader of the faithful, Shaykh Uthman Dan Fodiyo and all his illustrious successors.
“This has shown in your fascinating leadership of the Nigerian Muslim community. You have always extended love to the nation’s Muslim community in the Western, Eastern, Southern and Northern parts of Nigeria and even those of other nationalities before and since you became the Sultan of Sokoto about two decades ago,“ he said.
He expressed gratitude to the Sultan for making another historic visit to Ilorin, and prayed God for a sound health and other things he wished himself that will enable him to continue to promote enviable leadership for the Nigerian Muslim Community.
The First Mallami Ubandoma, who is the Founder and Proprietor of Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ilorin, was attached to the Sultan by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari who warmly received the Sultan on his short visit to Ilorin.
The Sultan of Sokoto was on a visit to Ilorin to attend the public lecture and book presentations in honour of Professor Is’aq Oloyede, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), at the University of Ilorin and convocation ceremony of Ojaja University, owned by the Ọọni of Ife, Ọba Enitan Ogunwusi .
A farewell prayer was observed for the Sultan by the First Mallami Ubandoma of Ilorin Emirate at the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin before the Monarch returned back to Sokoto, the seat of the Caliphate.