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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Nigeria gets new Islamic leader | Nigeria gets new Islamic leader |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A new Sultan of Sokoto, the spiritual leader of Nigeria's 70m Muslims, has been announced. | A new Sultan of Sokoto, the spiritual leader of Nigeria's 70m Muslims, has been announced. |
| Colonel Muhammadu Sada Abubakar, 53, is the younger brother of Sultan Mohammadu Maccido, who was killed in a plane crash on Sunday, along with 95 others. | Colonel Muhammadu Sada Abubakar, 53, is the younger brother of Sultan Mohammadu Maccido, who was killed in a plane crash on Sunday, along with 95 others. |
| Col Abubakar had been serving as Nigeria's military attache to Pakistan. | Col Abubakar had been serving as Nigeria's military attache to Pakistan. |
| Like all sultans, Col Abubakar is descended from Uthman Dan Fodio, who led a 19th Century jihad to spread Islam across northern Nigeria. | Like all sultans, Col Abubakar is descended from Uthman Dan Fodio, who led a 19th Century jihad to spread Islam across northern Nigeria. |
| The BBC's Ardo Abdullah Hazzad in the northern city of Sokoto, says that thousands of people have gathered to celebrate the appointment outside the imposing sultan's palace. | The BBC's Ardo Abdullah Hazzad in the northern city of Sokoto, says that thousands of people have gathered to celebrate the appointment outside the imposing sultan's palace. |
| Easy-going | Easy-going |
| Col Abubakar is to greet the crowds after earlier going to thank Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa for naming him as the 20th sultan. | Col Abubakar is to greet the crowds after earlier going to thank Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa for naming him as the 20th sultan. |
| I want to congratulate the state government for choosing a consensus sultan Muhammadu Bello, trader | |
| Col Abubakar was chosen by a group of traditional rulers, known as kingmakers, who passed a shortlist of three to Mr Bafarawa for the final decision. | Col Abubakar was chosen by a group of traditional rulers, known as kingmakers, who passed a shortlist of three to Mr Bafarawa for the final decision. |
| "May he continue where the late sultan stopped," trader Muhammadu Bello told Reuters news agency. | "May he continue where the late sultan stopped," trader Muhammadu Bello told Reuters news agency. |
| "I want to congratulate the state government for choosing a consensus sultan." | "I want to congratulate the state government for choosing a consensus sultan." |
| Col Abubakar, who has also served with West Africa's peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone, was top of the list and so the governor was expected to select him. | Col Abubakar, who has also served with West Africa's peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone, was top of the list and so the governor was expected to select him. |
| He is described as being relaxed and easy-going. | He is described as being relaxed and easy-going. |
| The late sultan was widely revered for his peace efforts | |
| The Sokoto Caliphate founded by Dan Fodio became one of the largest pre-colonial states in Africa. | The Sokoto Caliphate founded by Dan Fodio became one of the largest pre-colonial states in Africa. |
| The sultan's role includes announcing the start and the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Nigeria. | The sultan's role includes announcing the start and the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Nigeria. |
| The BBC's Alex Last in Nigeria says the sultan is meant to be a symbol of good governance and Islamic unity. | The BBC's Alex Last in Nigeria says the sultan is meant to be a symbol of good governance and Islamic unity. |
| Crash | Crash |
| The late sultan was widely respected for trying to ease tensions between Nigeria's Muslim and Christians communities, which occasionally spill over into sectarian violence. | The late sultan was widely respected for trying to ease tensions between Nigeria's Muslim and Christians communities, which occasionally spill over into sectarian violence. |
| His son and grandson were also killed when a Boeing 737 flight operated by ADC airlines crashed just after take-off from the capital, Abuja, on its way to Sokoto. | His son and grandson were also killed when a Boeing 737 flight operated by ADC airlines crashed just after take-off from the capital, Abuja, on its way to Sokoto. |
| Nigeria held three days of national mourning and President Olusegun Obasanjo went to Sokoto to pay his respects. | Nigeria held three days of national mourning and President Olusegun Obasanjo went to Sokoto to pay his respects. |
| It was the third major Nigeria plane crash in just over a year. | It was the third major Nigeria plane crash in just over a year. |
| ADC's licence has been suspended. | ADC's licence has been suspended. |