Tinubu Congratulates Sultan of Sokoto on 20th Anniversary of Ascension to Throne

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, on the 20th anniversary of his ascension to the throne, describing him as a moral authority and a strong advocate for peace, religious tolerance and national unity.

Tinubu praised the monarch’s two decades of leadership, saying he had strengthened the historic institution of the Sokoto Caliphate and used his position to promote peace, unity and national development.

The President conveyed his message in a congratulatory letter personally signed on Monday to mark the Sultan’s anniversary.

In the letter, Tinubu described the Sultan as more than a traditional ruler, noting his contributions to national leadership and interfaith relations.

“You have been more than a traditional ruler. You have been a moral authority, a bridge between faiths, a voice of moderation and a steady counsellor to leaders across the country,” he wrote.

The President also commended the Sultan’s service as President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Co-Chairman of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).

He said the monarch had consistently promoted religious harmony, enabling Christians and Muslims to find common ground despite their differences.

“You have consistently stood for religious harmony and tolerance. Under your leadership as Co-Chairman of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, Christians and Muslims have found common ground, and our diversity has become a source of strength rather than division,” Tinubu said.

The President further acknowledged the Sultan’s contributions to peacebuilding in Northern Nigeria and the Sahel, as well as his advocacy for girl-child education, support for farmers and interventions on behalf of vulnerable Nigerians.

Tinubu also spoke about his personal relationship with the monarch, describing his counsel as honest, patriotic and guided by Nigeria’s national interest.

“Your counsel has been honest, patriotic and always in Nigeria’s best interest.

“Thank you for your support and your prayers for our nation,” he wrote.

The President prayed for the Sultan’s continued good health, long life and wisdom, expressing hope that his reign would continue to promote peace in Sokoto and unity across Nigeria.

“May your reign continue to bring peace to Sokoto, unity to Nigeria, and honour to the Ummah,” Tinubu added.

The Sultan ascended the throne on November 2, 2006, becoming the 20th Sultan of Sokoto following the death of his predecessor, Muhammadu Maccido.

Maccido died alongside 95 other people when ADC Airlines Flight 053 crashed near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on October 29, 2006. He was 78 years old.

Before becoming Sultan, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III had a distinguished military career. A graduate of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, he was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1974 and served in various command and staff positions, including United Nations peacekeeping missions.

He retired from the military as a Brigadier-General in December 2006.

During his reign, the Sultan has played prominent roles in peace advocacy, including efforts to address farmer-herder conflicts, the Boko Haram insurgency and religious tensions across parts of the country.

As President-General of the NSCIA, he is regarded as Nigeria’s highest-ranking Islamic traditional and religious authority. He also co-chairs NIREC, which provides a platform for dialogue between Christian and Muslim leaders.

The Sultan has equally remained an advocate for girl-child education, particularly in communities where access to education for girls has faced cultural and social challenges.

The Sokoto Caliphate was established in 1804 by Islamic scholar and reformer Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio following a jihad that transformed political and religious leadership across several Hausa states in what is now Northern Nigeria.