President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs of Nigeria, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, on his 70th birthday.
President Tinubu, in a statement he personally signed, described the royal father as “a stabilizing voice in times of turbulence, a builder of bridges between religions and communities, and a moral compass not only for our Muslim ummah, but for our entire nation.”
Tinubu, who noted that under Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultanate has continued to promote education, interfaith dialogue and humanitarian service, prayed God to continue to grant the Sultan many more years of good health, sound judgment and continued strength.
The statement read: “Today, I join millions of Nigerians in celebrating a remarkable milestone for a remarkable person: His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs of Nigeria, on his 70th birthday.
“Your Eminence, on this day I offer my warmest congratulations to you and your many subjects in Sokoto and beyond, on behalf of myself, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Your seventy years are a testament to a life lived in service, wisdom and grace. For nearly two decades on the throne of your ancestors, you have embodied the best traditions of the Sokoto Caliphate: scholarship, humility and an unwavering commitment to peace.
“You have been a stabilizing voice in times of turbulence, a bridge builder between religions and communities, and a moral compass not only for our Muslim ummah, but for our entire nation.
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“I have come to know him as a leader who tells the truth with compassion, who counsels patience without weakness and who champions unity without compromising conviction. Under his leadership, the Sultanate has continued to promote education, interfaith dialogue and humanitarian service. His advocacy for peaceful coexistence, for girls and for the dignity of every Nigerian reflects the best of our shared values.
“At 70 years old, you remain a leading figure of conscience and counsel. Your palace in Sokoto has become a sanctuary for dialogue, and your words carry weight in every corner of this country. In times of pain, you console. In times of division, you unite. In times of doubt, you remind us of our common humanity and our common destiny as one people under God.
“As President, I deeply value your partnership in nation-building. Your support for the security, community development and spiritual well-being of our people strengthens the fabric of our republic. Nigeria needs more wisdom than you so generously offer.
“On this historic birthday, I pray that Allah continues to grant you many more years of good health, sound judgment and constant strength. May he preserve you for your family, for the Sokoto Caliphate and for Nigeria. May your reign continue to be a source of blessing, guidance and honour.
“Your Eminence, congratulations once again. May this new decade of your life be the most rewarding yet.”
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