By Ankeli Emmanuel (Correspondent, Sokoto)
Indeed, it was a gathering of society's heavyweights, but with all categories of human beings in attendance - the high, middle, low, spectators and as expected, the praise singers. Traditional sirens woven with local drums continue to rent the air, as the aesthetic glamour of the venue adds color to the epoch-making event.
No doubt, the Sultanate Council, has, for time immemorial, been honoring deserving individuals with traditional titles. However, what made this Easter Day (Sunday, 4th April 2021) turning event entirely different, where the caliber of dignitaries involved.
While each of those to be turbanned came with their well-wishers, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar 111, assured that they were all worthy ambassadors of their respective families and the nation at large.
Amongst those turbanned were former governor of Kogi State, Ibrahim Idris. He was crowned as the Jekada of Sokoto. Others are the former Minister, Yusuf Suleiman (Dan'Amar of Sokoto), Prof Ahmad Tijjani Mora was turbaned as Kayayen of Sarkin Musulmi, Alhaji Namadina Abdurrahman as Talba of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Bature as Dokaji of Sokoto and Alhaji Mustapha Garba as Dandarma of Sokoto.
Those who also got turbaned by the Sultan are Alhaji Musa Bashar who is now Mayana of Sokoto; Alhaji Faruk Ahmad as Danmadami of Sokoto; Alhaji Maiakwai Mua'azu Lamido as Sarkin Gabas of Sokoto; Amimu Bala Sokoto as DanIya of Sokoto; Alhaji Muhtari Bello Maigona as Zanna of Sokoto; Dahiru Abbas as Sarkin Gandu of Sokoto; Alhaji Sada Bello S/Sudan as Marafan Yan Sarki of Sokoto; Yusuf Abubakar 111 as Cigari of Sokoto; Haliru Maccido as Danruwatau of Sokoto and Alhaji Aminu Buhari Galadima as Danmalikin Sokoto.
However the loudest ovation from spectators came when the name of the youngest amongst all that were turbaned, Hon Abdusamad Dasuki was mentioned. Abdusammad Dasuki was turbaned alongside two of his elder brothers, namely, Alhaji Abubakar Dasuki as Dan Maje of Sokoto, Alhaji Khadir Abba Dasuki as Durbi of Sokoto, while Honourable Abdussamad Dasuki was given the traditional title of Santuraki of Sokoto.
For the Dasuki's family, the event was a rebirth of royalty. This is even more so when the youngest of all that were turbaned was the 43 years old Honourable Abdussamad Dasuki. For Abdussamad Dasuki, being the 13th of his father's 27 children, destiny has on several occasions bestowed on him leadership anchored on excellence and diligence.
Adbussamad whose father, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, was the 18th Sultan of Sokoto but who was deposed in 1996 by the military government of former Head of State, late General Sani Abacha, belongs to the Malam Buhari Dan Shehu ruling family of the Sokoto Caliphate. Being a thorough-bred professional with cognate experience in both public and private sectors, Abdusamad Dasuki (Santuraki of Sokoto) had his primary education at the Federal Staff Primary School, Sokoto from 1984 and finished in 1990.
After that, he proceeded to the Nigerian Military School, in Zaria, Kaduna state for his secondary education in 1991 and finished in 1996. Abdussamad was eventually admitted into the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA) for active military training in 1997 but as fate may have it, he left NDA in 2000 to University of Abuja and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics in 2004.
Because of his quest for knowledge, Abdussamad Dasuki further went to the Harvard Kennedy School’s certificate: Leaders in Development (2013) and Business Analysis (2008) from the Lagos Business School. At the moment, Dasuki, a politician, philanthropist and an easy going fellow, is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Management, the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria and Chartered Institute of Economists of Nigeria.
Propelled however by his desire for service to humanity, Abdussamad joined politics in 2011 and was elected member, Sokoto State House of Assembly, representing Tambuwal East constituency. He served as Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, and Chairman House Committee on Finance and Appropriation. While in the House, he sponsored a number of impactful bills and motions, including the consumption tax bill, which were successfully passed into law.
Amazed by his scope of understandings, Abdussamad represented the Sokoto State House of Assembly at various fora, including periodic meetings of Commonwealth Parliamentarians. But like the golden fish that has no hiding place, the people of Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency where Abdussamad hailed from, found him worthy of being elected as their representative at the National Assembly and they unanimously did that in 2015.
Having that royalty in him, Dasuki distinguished himself with honours and respect for all at the lower chambers of the National Assembly, both at the plenary and floor of the House. Though, now a serving Commssioner for Finance in Sokoto State under the governor Amimu Waziri Tambuwal led adminstration, Sultan of Sookoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III found Abdussamad Dasuki not only worthy but also suitable to be conferred with the traditional title of SANTURAKIN OF SOKOTO. . Historically, the title of ‘Santuraki’ originated from Kano royalty and later spread to some Emirates in the Northern Nigeria, including the Sultanate Council. In Kano royal titles, like Danmaje, the titleholder of Santuraki is usually a prince from the royal family and sometimes a District Head. The title is administrative in purpose and the titleholder, a prince and an inner member of the royal family, assists the Sultan in the day to day running of the Sultanate.
Abdusamad is the second person to have been given Santuraki of Sokoto after the late Alhaji Bello Dogondaji, a seasoned administrator and educationist. He was Minister of Education of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during former President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s regime. He was also a prince from Dogondaji, from the Buhari lineage, descendants of the Shehu Usmanu Danfodiyo. He was turbaned as the first Santuraki of Sokoto by the 18th Sultan of Sokoto, late Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, in June 1995. NNL.
