From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Saad Abubakar II, has said that the Northern region of Nigeria is not bad, but detractors were behind efforts to tarnish its image.
The Sultan stated this in his address at the maiden edition of the public lecture of Mallam Abdullahi Fodiyo, the founder of Gwandu Emirate of Kebbi State, which was attended by many traditional rulers from the Southern parts of the country.
The President General of Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, who eulogized the beauty of Northerners, stressed that the region has brothers and sisters across the Southwest and South-South of the country who are working with Northerners harmoniously.
His words: “We appreciate this gesture and we don’t take it for granted. You know how we work with you. We thank Almighty Allah for allowing us to work with you and for you to work with us. And that is why we have stability in our traditional institution.
“I want to thank you and to assure you all that we would continue to work with you to bring you closer to us so that you can know us better than you have been told by detractors who don’t want to see peace in our communities. Who always say negative things about the North.
“The North is not a bad empire, it is a very beautiful place to be and we are very proud that Almighty Allah brought us to this world through these places. If we have to come back to this world after we might have left, we still beg Almighty Allah to bring us back to this same Northern part of this country.
“So, you need to know most about us and thank God you are all here today.”
Sultan who commended the Governor of Kebbi State and Emir of Gwandu’ Emirate, noted that there was not a state in the country where all former governors of a state sat together peacefully for a state function like Kebbi State.
He said that Nigerians should not be castigating their leaders, rather, they should be praying for them to succeed.
While speaking at the occasion, Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, who commended all the important personalities from different parts of the country, announced the renaming of the Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero (KSUSTA) as Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero, in the honour of Sheik Abdullahi Fodio, Islamic scholar.
In his remark, the former Kebbi State governor, Senator Muhammadu Adamu Aliero, noted that if the people were following the teachings of Sheik Abdullahi Fodio,t here wouldn’t be any Almajiri children in the state and urged leaders to take care of others.
Minister of Budget and Economy Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu commended Governor Dr Nasir Idris for promoting the culture of Kebbi State, stressing that it had always been his prayers that his successor would perform better than him.