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From Fred Itua, Abuja
The Amayanabo of Elem Kalabari Kingdom in Rivers State, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, has called for deeper ties between northern Nigeria and the South-South region, as he paid a royal visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, at his palace on Tuesday.
Asari thanked the Sultan for the warm reception and said the visit was aimed at promoting national unity and strengthening the cordial relationship between traditional institutions in the north and south.
“Nigeria remains one and indivisible for the good of our people and for the welfare of all of us,” he said.
Describing the Sultan as humble and amiable, he added that the visit would “go a very long way to strengthen this bond of relationship and make Nigeria a better place for all of us.”
The visit offered an opportunity to reinforce the historical and cultural ties between the North-West and the South-South ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Welcoming his guest, the Sultan, who is also President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), expressed appreciation for the visit and said such engagements would further consolidate the long-standing relationship between the two regions.
Turning to the 2027 polls, Sa’ad stressed the need for mutual understanding and peaceful conduct among political actors to ensure a peaceful electoral process.
“There is nowhere in the world that is 100 per cent devoid of problems. It is how to overcome the challenges that matters,” he said.
The Sultan also pointed to the security threat posed by the country’s porous borders, calling for more surveillance equipment to enable effective monitoring and curb smuggling and other cross-border crimes.
Asari was accompanied on the visit by prominent personalities and chiefs, including Tonye Princewill, the Paramount Chief of the Kalabari Kingdom.
