Former Sultan, Ibrahim Dasuki dies at 93

Ibrahim Dasuki, was former Sultan of Sokoto

Ibrahim Dasuki, the former Sultan of Sokoto who was deposed during the regime of General Sani Abacha, is dead.

He was aged 93 in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Alhaji Umar Faruk, Secretary Sultanate Council confirmed his death.

The former Sultan was deposed in 1996, eight years after he ascended the throne. He succeeded Sultan Abubakar, the father of the current Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar.

Sultan Dasuki was a notable business man and was the father of Colonel Sambo Dasuki, the former National Security Adviser, now facing trial over the mismanagement of billions of dollars meant to procure arms during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Sultan Dasuki will be buried on Tuesday after the afternoon prayer at the Sultan Bello Mosque.

Dasuki was the 18th Sultan of Sokoto. Prior to becoming Sultan, he held the traditional title of Baraden Sokoto.

He was the first Sultan from the Buhari line of the house of Dan Fodio and he was a close associate of Ahmadu Bello, a friend of Abubakar Gumi and was influential in the founding of Jama’atu Nasril Islam.

After the death of Abubakar Siddique, the 17th Sultan of Sokoto on November 1, 1988, Dasuki was among the leading contenders to become the new Sultan.

Some of his opponents included Shehu Malami and Muhammadu Maccido, who later succeeded him.

Maccido was the son of Abubakar Siddique and he was popular among the populace in Sokoto.

But Dasuki was close to the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida and on December 6, 1988, he was announced as the new Sultan to the dismay of some in Sokoto.

The announcement led to five days of rioting which resulted to the death of 10 people.