Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, 2027 Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), paid a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, ahead of their town-hall engagements.
The former Anambra State Governor said, he seized the opportunity of the visit to express his condolences to the Sultan over the recent passing of the Sardauna of Sokoto.
Former Sardauna of Sokoto and Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, passed in July, 2026 at the age of eighty-eight (88) at a hospital in Abuja while receiving medical treatment.
Making the announcement on Monday via X, Obi said: “Today, ahead of our town-hall engagements in Sokoto, Sokoto State, I had the privilege of paying a courtesy visit to His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto,
“alongside my brother and running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and members of our team.We used the opportunity of the visit to condole with him on the recent death of the Sardauna of Sokoto.”
In his comments, Obi highlighted the “urgent need” for Nigeria’s “unity and security”, as well as, to fight poverty and bring back “confidence” in the nation.
Obi said, he alongside his running mate and team members were “warmly” received by the Sultan, with His Eminence making a recall of knowing the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for “almost 46 years”.
Making his remarks, the Sultan listed three (3) “critical priorities” for Nigeria, which include; “security, poverty, and employment”. He said, Nigeria’s diversity from the “tribes” to the “tongues” are divine, and should be the country’s “strength”.
Obi said: “In my remarks, I emphasised the urgent need to unite and secure our nation, tackle poverty, create employment, and rebuild confidence in our country.His Eminence warmly received us and spoke with the wisdom of a father and national leader.
“He recalled that he has known me for almost 46 years, since 1980, when I was in my first year at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and has maintained a cordial relationship since then.
“He reminded us that leadership comes from Almighty Allah and carries a responsibility for which we will ultimately be held accountable. He also mentioned three critical priorities for Nigeria: security, poverty, and employment.
“He additionally reminded us that our diversity of tribes, tongues, and faiths is part of God’s creation and should be our strength, not our weakness.”
The plan is not to “Islamize or Christianise” the country, but, to “build” a Nigeria where all citizens can “safely” thrive and “prosper”.
Obi said: “We do not seek to Islamise or Christianise anyone. We seek to build a Nigeria where every citizen can live safely, prosper, and have a genuine sense of belonging.”
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