Respected traditional ruler and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Thursday called on the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo not to retire from politics, saying that the country still needs him.
Abubaka who doubles as president-general, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, stated this when Obasanjo paid him a courtesy visit at his palace in Sokoto yesterday.
He urged Obasanjo to continue to give his fatherly advice to leaders of the country until he eXit from the world.
According to him, Obasanjo cannot retire from politics because politics is part of him, saying he was one of the most privileged Nigerians.
He said, “In the service of the country, you can never be tired. You have to continue serving the country until your last day on earth. There is no leader in this country who was so privileged to be a military head of state and then a civilian president other than this our distinguished ‘Yallaban Sokoto. So, you cannot retire; you cannot be tired.
“You cannot retire from politics because politics is part of you forever, because service to this great country is important which you must continue to render until God takes us from this world. As a distinguished Nigerian, we are always proud to be associated with you and your past.”
The royal father recalled that many years ago when the former president visited the palace as Head of State, he was dressed in military attires, saying, “You met my father here and the comments you made are still fresh in our memories.
“Today, by the Grace of Allah, we are here also receiving you, but in a different capacity, in different clothes, not in uniform. That is destiny. “We must continue to strive to meet the very high expectations of our people. We cannot afford to fail them. So many people across the world believe in what we are doing. Therefore, we have to continue to come closer, to work together across various divides.”
The Monarch said further that some of the nation’s problems today were artificially created by Nigerians, adding that the traditional institutions believe in the country and its leadership, as they have a stake in the affairs of the nation.
In his statement earlier, Chief Obasanjo described the sultan as a man of peace and commended him for promoting unity in the nation.
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