President Bola Tinubu has celebrated the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, on his 70th birthday.
Tinubu described the Sultan’s seven decades of life as a testament to service, wisdom and leadership.
The President said the Sultan had spent nearly two decades on the throne promoting peace, unity, education and dialogue across religious and ethnic communities.
“Your seventy years are a testament to a life lived in service, wisdom, and grace,” Tinubu said.
He described the Sultan as “a stabilising voice in times of turbulence, a bridge-builder across faiths and communities, and a moral compass not only for our Muslim ummah, but for our entire nation.”
According to Tinubu, the Sultan had consistently demonstrated leadership characterised by compassion, patience and commitment to national unity.
“I have come to know you as a leader who speaks truth with compassion, who counsels patience without weakness, and who champions unity without compromising conviction,” he said.
The President commended the Sultanate for promoting education, interfaith dialogue and humanitarian activities.
He also praised the Sultan’s advocacy for peaceful coexistence, the girl-child and the dignity of Nigerians.
“At 70, you remain a towering figure of conscience and counsel,” Tinubu said.
He described the Sultan’s palace in Sokoto as a centre for dialogue and said his counsel remained influential across the country.
Tinubu also acknowledged the Sultan’s contribution to security, community development and the spiritual wellbeing of Nigerians.
He prayed for the monarch’s continued good health and wisdom, wishing him many more years of service to the Sokoto Caliphate and Nigeria.
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