“The Sultan of Sokoto is Very Humble and Respectful” – HRH King Appolus Chu
Concerning
the video making the rounds on social media and speculations that His
Eminence HRM Alhaji Saad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, snubbed the
Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu at an event, I
don't think that's what really happened. The Sultan I know does not
insult or disrespect people in any way. In fact, he doesn’t give room
for anything like that around him. I see this whole episode as people
reading unnecessary meanings into the video clip and blowing things out
of proportion for cheap publicity.
The Sultan of Sokoto that I know,
personally, is one of the most humble, approachable and sociable
traditional rulers we have in this country today. If you look at the
video, you will notice that he wasn’t going about looking for people
rather people were approaching him on their own, because he is a very
approachable, welcoming and hospitable person. He is the kind of person
that people naturally love to associate with. There are so many people
in this country that people do not associate with because of the way
they carry themselves. The Sultan is not like that. The Sultan is not in
the category of persons that disrespect or disregards others because of
his position. He respects everyone. He is a down-to-earth leader who
has the rare ability of being able to carry everybody along regardless
of status or personality. He doesn't assume any airs, whatsoever. I have
dined with him, from the same plate, on different occasions. I have
visited him at different times, both home and abroad, and each time he
personally walked me and my aides to our vehicles to see us off.
His
warm and hospitable nature is also why he has been able to successfully
bring the people of the Northern region of the country – Christians and
Muslims, politicians and nonpoliticians – together to address issues
affecting the North and Nigeria in general. His ability to reach out to
people, regardless of their status, tribe or religion is what has given
him the popularity he enjoys among Nigerians today and endeared so many
of us to him. He is a man who understands the secret of life and knows
what it takes to earn respect from people. He doesn’t lobby for loyalty
from those that know him, but earns their loyalty by the way he respects
himself and respects others.
His ability to mix freely with
everyone is one reason why the National Council of Traditional Rulers of
Nigeria, which he co-chairs with the Ooni of Ife, has become the focal
point of national integration in recent times. In the National Council
of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, he is on record for saying that “Kings
are equal, regardless of the classification of their stools, whether
first class or one hundredth class”. In one of our meetings at the
National Council of Traditional Rulers, he came down from the high table
set aside for the leaders of the body and said there shouldn’t be any
high table because all the traditional rulers are equal. You cannot
identify that kind of man as a person who would intentionally snub or
embarrass someone else, talk more of snubbing a person in the calibre of
the Governor of Lagos State.
Besides, when you look at the video in
question, it is easy to infer that both men had probably met in the
waiting room before being ushered into the auditorium for the programme.
They would have had long periods of interaction before coming out. That
can explain why, again looking at the video, the Sultan did not look at
Governor Sanwo-Olu's hand to know whether or not the Executive Governor
of Lagos State was offering his hand for a handshake, because that was
likely not their first meeting of the night. Again, Governor Sanwo-Olu,
being very respectful of traditional rulers, would have merely folded
his hand and bowed in that form of greeting that is common for elders
and traditional rulers in the West and North of the country. You can see
them clearly chatting in the video, despite not shaking hands.
Both
men are national leaders and nationalists, I am sure they will have more
opportunities to meet in the future. It is only where the Sultan
refuses the governor's handshake at such future meetings that we can
begin to wonder whether something is amiss. For now, I think people
should stop making unfounded speculations about the video. As
nationalists, both men know that what we need the most in Nigeria, right
now, is for our leaders to share a single vision for national progress
and prosperity, by working towards peace, security and unity of the
nation. I urge both leaders, especially His Excellency the Governor of
Lagos State, not to be distracted by the side comments of arm-chair
analysts with nothing better to do than look for a way to drive a wedge
into the obviously good relationship existing between him and the
Sultan.
HRH King Appolus Chu
Oneh-Eh Nchia X
And Egbere Emere Okori
Eleme Kingdom
Rivers State
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