By Abbas Jimoh, Abiodun Alade (Lagos) & Hameed Oyegbade (Osogbo)
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, on behalf of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), has felicitated the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, on the occasion of his 66th birthday.
The SGF described the President General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) as a devout Muslim, who had been playing a fatherly role in speaking up and providing for the poor and underprivileged.
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He also commended the 20th sultan for his role as the co-chair of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), a body that promotes inter-religious harmony, oneness and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.
The Director of Information in the SGF office, Willie Bassey, said on Wednesday in a statement that Mustapha congratulated the spiritual leader for providing guidance and wisdom to the Muslim faithful and Nigerians, describing him as a leader worthy of emulation.
Also, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, extolled the sultan for his exemplary leadership as a preeminent traditional ruler and spiritual head of Muslim Ummah in Nigeria while describing him as an “untiring unifier and conciliator.”
Tinubu, in his special goodwill message, noted that Sultan Abubakar had an enviable career in the military where he retired as a Brigadier General before he ascended the foremost throne of the Sokoto Caliphate. He attributed many of his successes and accomplishments as Sultan to his discipline, sacrifice and forthrightness.
“Since he became the Head of the Sokoto Caliphate, Sultan Abubakar has led his people and the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria with honour, courage, dignity and dedication.
“Our country is blessed with him with his role in promoting inter-faith dialogue; harmony and peaceful coexistence among adherents of all faith.
“His interventions on many burning national issues and crises have on all occasions been the soothing balm that helped diffuse and bring down tension,” Tunubu added.
Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, described the foremost traditional ruler as an exemplary leader and bridge builder who had continued to promote national unity, tolerance, peace and security of the country.
The governor also lauded the Sultan for his fatherly role in advocating religious tolerance and good governance, and for always offering wise and objective counsel to political leaders.
“As a man of the people, the Sultan has the interest of the masses at heart and always advocates their welfare and wellbeing. His humility, exemplary leadership attributes and love for the country and the people are worthy of emulation,” he said.
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