(RESS STATEMENT)
His Eminence Sultan of Sokoto Sa’ad Abubakar III has extolled the doggedness , vision and capacity of the All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate and former Governor of Lagos State Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the Campaign team’s courtesy visit to the Sultan at his palace in Sokoto on Thursday. Sultan Sa’ad made the remarks while responding to Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s opening remarks on the purpose of the visit to His Eminence.
“We have come to pay our respects as is customary in our African tradition to the Sultanate as the home of knowledge and leadership in the country. We also know that His Eminence does not play politics , but since we are here we want your blessings , we want to win”.
President Buhari went ahead to present the APC Presidential candidate to the Sultan .”The All Progressives Congress as a party chose Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as it’s flagbearer so I have come as the leader of the party to present him to His Eminence”, Buhari said.
Sultan Sa’ad in his response said “Ashiwaju of the World , welcome to our palace , Mr President welcome to Sokoto”. He spoke further about knowing Bola Ahmed Tinubu since 2007, and how he watched Lagos undergo such tremendous transformation and development starting with Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first and second tenures. His Eminence reiterated his non-involvement and abstinence from endorsement of political parties or their candidates but also assured Ashiwaju of his prayers for success.
President Buhari was also told by the Sultan, “We always pray for you as the country’s leader because our religion mandates us to pray for our leaders so that they can lead us aright”. Buhari was assured of the Sultan’s prayers even after leaving office.
Present at the palace for the visit were APC National Chairman Sen Abdullahi Adamu , Senate President Ahmed Lawan , Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Progressives Governors’ Forum Chairman Atiku Bagudu , Northern Coordinator of the Campaign and Governor of Jigawa State Mohammed Badaru , Vice Presidential candidate Kashim Shettima ,Sen Aliyu Wammako and the Sokoto State APC Gubernatorial candidate Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.
Speaking after the visit Sokoto State APC leader Sen Aliyu Wamakko praised the Sultan for the warm and magnificent reception Ashiwaju was given by the historic institution. The Sultan has shown that he is father to all. For us Sultan’s prayers are always important for everything we do and this one will be answered by Almighty Allah, inshaa Allah so we are very happy.” Wammako enthused.
Literature and research materials on the works and leadership writings of the Caliphate founding fathers were presented to the entourage by the Sultan for study and use “if and when they come to power”.
E-Signed:
Dr Danladi Bako
Kogunan Sokoto
Member, APC Presidential Campaign Council Media Directorate
Chairman , Publicity, Sokoto State APC Gubernatorial campaign council.
Feb 09, 2023.
