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The demise of Sultan
Maccido
DEATH is an inevitable occurrence that defies all possible solutions; Death
strikes whenever it feels like striking leaving behind it waves of
monumental disaster. Since man has no premonition of when his days will come
to an end death always remains a visitor that must be embrace without
option.
Nigerians last Sunday woke up to witnessed yet another brand of air-mishap
when over 100 passengers on board an ADC airline all perished including his
imminence Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar III, Deputy Governor of
Sokoto state, Alhaji Garba Muhammad, Senator Yari-Gandi, Senator Badamasi
Muhammad Maccido son of the Sultan, Alhaji Abdurrahman Shagari son of the
former president Aliyu Shehu Shagari among other top ranking Nigerians that
perished in the crash.
The incident involving ADC Airlines happens to be the third most fatal
Air-mishaps since the previous one, that is the one involving Bellview
Airlines on October 23, 2005, where the plane reportedly went down in bad
weather in Lissa village near Lagos killing all the 117 people on board.
Another ill fated plane crash of similar magnitude involving an aircraft
operated by Sosoliso Airlines crashed in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria killing all
the 108 passengers on board among the school children who were on holidays.
Similarly Nigeria had once again experienced another National tragedy
occasioned by the series of air disasters in the country whene just a couple
of month ago the nation witnessed the death of about 14 military officers
among whom were 10 Generals when their small air force plane crashed into
the hills in central Benue state.
The officers were said to be on their way to Obudu in Southern Cross River
state to attend the annual chief of army staff conference on September 17
when the Donier 225 – 221 crashed into the hills of Korti thereby cutting
short their mission.
Going by the series of tragic air mishaps in Nigeria it has become a source
of concern not even among ordinary Nigerians but to the government ias will.
In his response over the most latest plane crash Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
came out boldly to say his mind regarding the episode through his
spokeswoman Oluremi-Oyo who quoted the president as saying that “He is
deeply and profoundly shocked and saddened by the news of the reported air
crash of an airline in the environ of the federal capital territory”.
To match his words with action President Olusegun Obasanjo quickly drove to
the Sultanate the next day to commiserate with the government and people of
Sokoto state over the demise of top ranking Nigerians.
Obasanjo described the late Sultan Abubakar as a man of God. He was credited
to have worked fearlessly towards the unity of Nigeria as one indivisible
entity.
The Sultan was an embodiment of justice and peace advocate “we use to call
on him when we were looking for how to deal with the HIV scourge and his
immense contributions towards the eradication of the dreaded monster remain
unquantifiable.”
The president who paid similar glowing tribute to the former President
Shagari whose child and grandsons got involved in the crash posited that God
alone knows why the accident happened. “Glory be to God who gave us those
people and took them away. We must continue to trust and believe in Him” he
averred.
Expressing his anger over the monumental loss the Aviation minister,
Professor Babalola Borishade also made a public pronouncement declaring the
operating license of ADC as indefinitely suspended.
Borishade was of the opinion that whenever there was a complaint regarding
poor weather condition each time it got advice from the meteorological
agencies NCAA is empowered to shut down affected airports forthwith.
Maccido the 19th Sultan of Sokoto was indeed a highly respected personality
and a disciplinarian of no mean standard.
The sultan wsa very meticulous in handling religious affairs a development
that endeared him to many Nigerians and exposed his profile as a highly
accommodating personality.
The Nigerian Muslims will definitely be missing the Sultan especially for
his elderly advice in bad situations that need the words of wisdom to solve.
As Bafarawa puts it “we shall continue to remember Maccido for uncountable
number of years due to his magnamity and hospitality in handling the
Muslims’ affairs.” He has indeed done well in preaching the gospel of Islam
and fearlessly stood by the people of Nigeria at the time of joy and danger.
We pray that Allah should grant the Sultan and all other Muslims who lost
their lives as a result of the ill fated plane crash Al’Janatul Fir’daus.
Amin.
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 2006