At the same time, Prof. Isa Odidi condoled the new Sultan over the death of his brother, the late Sultan Mohammadu Maccido, who was killed in a plane crash on Sunday, along with 95 others.

Prof Isa Odidi, who is the national Chairman of the New Democrats (ND) and the CEO and Chairman of IntelliPharmaCeutics , who is also the Sardauna of Zuba said “I, and on behalf of my wife Amina and family, Nigerian Community in the Americas and New Democrats (ND) want to congratulate the Sokoto State Government for choosing a consensus and appropriate Sultan, and extend our best wishes to the new Sultan, who has always been committed to sustenance of peace and mutual development.”

"I want to congratulate Governor Bafarawa of Sokoto state for choosing a consensus and appropriate sultan.."  -- Prof Isa Odidi

Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, a Colonel in the army had been serving as Nigeria's military attache to Pakistan, and who has also served with West Africa's peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone.  Like all sultans, Col Abubakar is descended from Uthman Dan Fodio, who led a 19th Century jihad to spread Islam across northern Nigeria.

Col Abubakar was chosen by a group of traditional rulers, known as kingmakers, who passed a shortlist of three to Governor Bafarawa for the final decision.

The new sultan is described as being relaxed and easy-going.

The Sokoto Caliphate founded by Dan Fodio became one of the largest pre-colonial states in Africa.