From Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
Sokoto, the seat of the Caliphate, stood still on Sunday as the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, turbaned 13 eminent personalities of national and international repute with prestigious traditional titles as part of activities marking the 20th anniversary of his ascension to the throne of his forebears.
The epoch-making ceremony, held at the Sultan’s Palace in Sokoto, attracted dignitaries from all walks of life, including traditional rulers, top government functionaries, members of the National Assembly, Islamic scholars, captains of industry and thousands of well-wishers who turned out to witness the historic occasion.
The main investiture ceremony was conducted between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at the Sultanate Council and was immediately followed by a colourful traditional durbar and Bukin Aski, which added glamour and pageantry to the celebration.
Those honoured with traditional titles included the former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, as Kuliyan Sokoto; former Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Dr. Peter Igho, as Kakakin Sokoto; Gandi Umar, Esq., as Sarkin Galmar Sarkin Musulmi; and renowned lecturer at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and Chief Imam of Abu Huraira Mosque, Prof. Mansur Ibrahim, as Danmasanin Sokoto.
Others were Alhaji Murtala Abdulkadir Dan’iya as Dallatun Sokoto; Abdulkadir Jeli Bello as Sarkin Fuloti Sokoto; Abubakar Saddique Abubakar as Sarkin Dawakin Tsakar Gida Sokoto; Shehu Usman Abubakar as Fagacin Sokoto; Hon. Bello Idris as Wakilin Tarihin Daular Usmaniyya; Hon. Ibrahim Almustapha Aliyu Rabah as Bauran Sokoto; Aminu Isa Buhari as Danmalikin Sokoto; Dr. Balarabe Kakale Shehu Shuni as Wakilin Makarantar Daular Usmaniyya; and Abubakar Hussaini Bazza as Sarkin Bai Sokoto.
Activities marking the 20th anniversary commenced on Friday, October 30, with special preaching sessions at the Abu Huraira Mosque in the Polo Club area of Sokoto, where 11 prominent Islamic scholars, including Sheikh Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa and Prof. Abdullahi Usman Gadon Kaya, delivered soul-inspiring sermons on peace, unity and development.
In the spirit of the celebration, the organising committees for the titles of Dallatun Sokoto and Danmasanin Sokoto carried out humanitarian gestures, including the freeing of 56 inmates from correctional facilities and providing support to 500 patients across hospitals in Sokoto State.
Among the honourees was Hon. Arc. Ibrahim Almustapha Aliyu, the incumbent member representing Wurno and Rabah Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, who was turbaned as Bauran Sokoto.
Born on August 20, 1973, in Sokoto, Hon. Aliyu is a seasoned architect who obtained his BSc and MSc degrees in Architecture from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a Diploma in Urban and Economic Development from Galilee College, Israel.
A Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects and the Institute of Management Consultants, Hon. Aliyu has held several strategic positions in the National Assembly.
These include Chairman, House Committee on Alternative Education; Deputy Chairman, Committee on Urban Development and Regional Planning; Chairman, Special Ad-hoc Committee on Petroleum Subsidy Regime; and Chairman, Nigeria-Hungary Parliamentary Friendship Group in the 10th National Assembly.
As a professional, he has designed and supervised numerous landmark projects, including the passenger terminal and protocol lounge at Sultan Abubakar International Airport, Sokoto; Wamakko Grand Jumaat Mosque; International Conference Centre, Sokoto; High Court of Justice, Sokoto; administrative blocks at Shehu Shagari College of Education; and mass housing projects across the 23 local government areas of Sokoto State.
The ceremony was widely described by attendees as a celebration of merit, service and loyalty to the Sokoto Caliphate and Nigeria at large.
Many also extolled the Sultan’s 20 years of purposeful, peaceful and impactful leadership, which they said had fostered unity among Muslims and promoted peaceful coexistence in the country.
While applauding the Sultan of Sokoto for bestowing on him the highly revered traditional title, Arch. Ibrahim Almustapha Aliyu pledged that the honour would spur him to sustain his philanthropic activities and provide quality representation at the National Assembly.
