Posted by From LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja on
The late Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido was in Abuja to honour invitation extended to him to be part of the Presidential Forum on Education which held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja last Saturday.
The late Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido was in Abuja to honour invitation extended to him to be part of the Presidential Forum on Education which held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja last Saturday.
He arrived the venue of the event well ahead of the commencement of the programme and sat on the front row where he exchanged pleasantries with an array of personalities, while awaiting the arrival of President Olusegun Obasanjo for the take-off of the event.
As he entered the large hall, the president was quite pleased with the presence of the sultan and said: 'this is an important occasion with the sultan around."
In further recognition of his presence, President Obasanjo requested the royal father to kick-start the programme with an opening prayer in the Islamic mode which Maccido promptly responded to.
He sat all through the event and listened attentively to all presentations and arguments on how best to carry out the reforms in the education sector and applauded the president's assurance that unity schools would remain government's property.
All through the occasion, it was apparent that Sultan Maccido, who was also the president-general of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs was in deep reflection as he kept performing ‘Al-Dhikr' (remembrance of Allah), counting on his Tasbhi.
At the end of the occasion, as he acknowledged greetings from several distinguished guests, and there was no inkling whatsoever that only a few hours lay between him and death.