EXTRA: Obasanjo, Kukah turn horse riders in Sokoto

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Matthew

Kukah, Catholic archbishop of Sokoto diocese
were among the 3,000 horsemen at a grand
Durbar held to mark the 10th coronation
anniversary of Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan
of Sokoto.
The occasion was witnessed by dignitaries such
as President Muhammadu Buhari; former Vice-
President Atiku Abubakar; Senate President
Bukola Saraki; and Yakubu Dogara, speaker of
the house of representatives.
In a remark at the event, Aminu Tambuwal,
governor of Sokoto, who was also among the
horsemen, said the durbar was organised to
celebrate the Sultan, whom he described as an
astute leader, peace maker and bridge
builder.

He also spoke on the leadership of Buhari,
saying he had restored hope to the nation
through his fight against corruption and
insecurity.
Tambuwal noted that the Buhari
administration had tamed insurgency, while
efforts were on to solve problems of militancy,
cattle rustling and other security challenges.
The governor also expressed optimism that the
Buhari administration would reinvigorate the
economy and set the nation on the path of
growth and development.
In his response, the Sultan emphasised his
belief in a united and indivisible Nigeria, and
urged all Nigerians to come together and work
for sustainable peace and unity in the
country.

According to the monarch, Nigerians should be
more pious and patriotic to ensure a more
prosperous country.
Abubakar said: “There must also be equity and
social justice, as without them there will be no
development.”
Earlier, Muhammadu Sanusi II, emir of Kano,
who was the chairman of the main organising
committee, said the durbar was to celebrate
the invaluable contributions of the Sultan to
national development.
On November 2, 2006, Abubakar was appointed
as the 20th Sultan of Sokoto Caliphate.