2002: October 13^TH

The ancient city of Sakkwato was like a ghost town. All activities have come to a standstill, offices closed, schools closed, market closed, even the air was motionless. Everybody was mourning, mourning the death of the Sultan. The Sultan passed away, humbly in the early hours of yesterday on his sick bed. Visitors were trooping into the ancient city; planes were landing and taking off. The Sultan Abubakar III International Airport was experiencing one of its busiest moments in history.

A mammoth crowd has gathered at Kan wuri, the Sultan’s palace, to pay condolence.  The four principal Sultan makers, who were also the core councilors of the Majalisa (Sultanate Council), were discussing in the Shigifar Sarki (Royal Hall).

“The incidence is unfortunate, the loss is irrecoverable,” said the Magajin gari, the eldest of them.  “But we have to learn to live with it, and even as we are in grief, we shouldn’t at all, relent in performing our duty of choosing a new leader for the jama’a (the people).

He paused, to let out a placid cough.

“His eminence, the late Sultan   left a wasiyya (a will), regarding his successor and that is why we are here today.”

Two of the councilors whose heads were down, quickly raised them up.

“What did he say?” questioned the sagely Waziri.

“He said I should tell you: Na hasa wuta ku taimakeni ku hurata, Na rataya takobi, kutaimakeni ku zare shi, Na fara yaki, ku taimakeni ku kareshi. (I’ve kindled a fire, assist me in fuelling it, I’ve worn a sword aid me to unsheathe it, I’ve waged a war, help me in finishing it.)

“A puzzle of some sort,” commented Magajin Gari.

“Compressed wisdom, sagely parables, very typical of the Sultan.” Chipped Sarkin Fada.

“I see this as guidelines for us to use in selecting his successor.” Said the sagely Waziri.

“Takulul Hakka (you have spoken the truth),” affirmed Magajin Rafi

“It couldn’t have been anything other than that.” ratified Sarkin Fada.

“He said something again, he talked of a sign.” The Magajin Gari came down from his karaga (Royal Couch) Stood at the center of the other three councilors and whispered into their ears.

*

This is the longest selection process in Sakkwatto History. Usually the Sultan makers sit together, look through the profiles of the contenders, from various lineages, and based on some laid down criteria, select the most suitable. But this case is different, different because the late Sultan was remarkable; he was extraordinary, different because he left a wassiya, different because the Majalisa has only a vague understanding of the wassiya. 

After consultations, re-consultations with notable Ulamas (Religious Clerics) close associates of the Sultan, other principal Emirs and the masses. Three out of the seven contenders to the throne were certified fit for the next round of selection by the Majalisa. They were to face the final test. Ibrahim Musa, a 43 old former Ambassador of Nigeria to India and presently a Professor of Philosophy at the Usman Dan Fodio University, is the first as ranked in order of suitability. Next is; Sir, Ahmadu Idris, the Takubban Sokoto, a former President of Nigeria, during the third Republic and the Present Secretary-General of the United Nations. Then, Djibo Attahiru, a man whose past is shrouded in obscurity.  He was a key player in the intellectual games played d by the late Sultan. He is said to have translated over a dozen Caliphate literatures to French and English. He is also believed to be the sole financier of their publication even in digital formats.

The three of them were seated before the Majalisa in Shigifar Sarki.

“By the end of this session, one of you may be the leader of the Jama’a. The sagely voice of the Waziri enthused. “It is expected of him to soothe the sorrows of his subjects, heal their wounds, respond to the beats of their pulse and like a heart, direct the circulation of blood in their veins. If he succeeds, then we’ve done our duty, if he fails, then we’ve failed. This is why we have to do our duty without prejudice, sentiment, fear or favour”.

He paused for close to a minute. The Hall would have been in complete darkness except for the inhalation and exhalation of air.

The late Sultan left a Wasiyya”, Waziri’s voice resumed. “It is based on this wasiyya that the three of you are here now. We see each of you as capable of stepping into the mighty footprints of the Sultan. He also left a sign, a sign which is to help us in recognizing his successor’’.

Suddenly, a frightening cloud of silence dominated the hall.

“Does any one of you know anything about the sign?” the voice inquired. The only answer the Waziri got was silence.

“Does any one of know you anything about the sign?” The voice inquired again.

“Yes I know something,” a slow, metallic voice erupted to disrupt the reign of silence. It was the voice of Djibo Attahiru.

“The late Sultan gave me a Sword.”

“A sword?” questioned the Waziri.