Sadiq ABUBAKAR,

1950's, he was the first traditional ruler in the defunct Northern Nigeria to accept the changes in Local Government which created Town and District Councils to welcome whole-heatedly the introduction of the then 1976 local government reforms throughout the country and he contributed immensely towards its successful implementation. As a Minister without portfolio, Member of the defunct Northern House of Chiefs, Member of the Northern Nigerian joint Council and Regional Committee and Member of the Northern Area Development Committee, Sultan Abubakar bestowed much dignity and maturity, upon the councils of the government, chiefs and people of the former Northern Region of Nigeria. He alsoplayeda no mean role in theprocess that led to the attainment of self-government in the Northern in 1960 as a whole. He was the first President of the Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) since their creation Sultan Abubakar was vested with the following honours before and after independence in recognition of his administrative ability andleadership. Awardedthe insigmas of the C.M.G in 1941, U.B.Ein 1954, G.B.Ein 1955,and the Nigeria'sforemost honour theGrand'Commanderofthe Niger(GCON). The Sultan was also honoured with Doctorate Degrees in Law from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU) 1965, the University of Benin 1972 and the University of Nigeria Nsukka 1976. The 17* Sultan of Sokoto AlhajiSirAbubakar IIIdied'in Sokoto in 1988.