AMANYANABO DOKUBO-ASARI, SULTAN OF SOKOTO MOVE TO STRENGTHEN HISTORIC BONDS BETWEEN ELEM KALABARI AND SOKOTO | Blissful Affairs Online
Royal visit opens a new chapter of friendship between two historic Nigerian institutions as Da Amakiri Tubo extends personal invitation to Sultan for SE DIYE in Buguma
By; Al Humphrey Onyanabo
The historic bonds of friendship and national unity between Nigeria’s diverse traditional institutions received fresh impetus on Tuesday as Da Amakiri Tubo, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, Amanyanabo of The Source, Torusarama Piri, Elem Kalabari, on Tuesday , October 20th, paid a royal visit to His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, with a personal invitation to attend SE DIYE, the landmark final coronation ceremony scheduled for December 19, 2026, in Buguma, Rivers State.
The visit brought together two distinguished traditional institutions and personalities whose histories reflect different but equally important dimensions of Nigeria’s cultural heritage: Elem Kalabari, the historic heartland of the Kalabari people in the Niger Delta, and Sokoto, the seat of the Sultanate and the historic centre of the Sokoto Caliphate.
Beyond the formal courtesies associated with a royal audience, the meeting provided an opportunity to explore the importance of friendship, mutual respect and cooperation between traditional institutions as Nigeria continues to navigate the demands of national unity, cultural preservation and development.
At the centre of the engagement was Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari’s invitation to the Sultan to attend his SE DIYE/ final coronation on December 19, 2026 when Buguma will host traditional rulers, government representatives, cultural leaders and distinguished guests for the final coronation and ascension ceremony marking his reign as Amanyanabo of The Source, Elem Kalabari, Torusarama Piri.
On the purpose of the visit,
Da Amakiri Tubo, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, Dabaye-Amakiri 1, Amakiri Ekpeke , Sebromabo. Amanyanabo of the chiefdom and principalities of The Source, Elem Kalabari. Torusarama-piri of the Kingdom of Kalabari
said,
” I and the Sultan have known ourselves for a long time. We have been to Hajj three or four times together. I came to inform you that your daughter AMIRAH will be doing her Nikhai on Dec 18th 2026 and on December 19th, 2026, I will undertake the final coronation rites as Amanyanabo. Where we come from, we pass through different stages before you are finally coronated. On December 19, 2026, I will be presented to my people.”
In his remarks the Sultan said,
” We are honoured to receive our brothers and sisters all the way from Rivers state to come and see us and to tell us the good things that the Almighty Allah has done. I have known Mujahid for a long time, and like he said we have been to Hajj together many times. He is a man who likes to help people, both Muslims and non Muslims and also build mosques.
God is never wrong in whatever he does. For him to be elevated now it means the works he has been doing has had positive impact on the people. Leadership is given by Allah and I want to assure you of our continued support.
By the grace of Almighty Allah, I will try and make it to your coronation. We thank you all for taking time to come here.”
TWO HISTORIC INSTITUTIONS, ONE NATIONAL DESTINY
The significance of the visit lies in the opportunity to build a stronger contemporary relationship between two traditional institutions that have shaped the histories and identities of their respective peoples.
Elem Kalabari emerged as an important maritime society whose history was shaped by riverine commerce, diplomacy, traditional governance and the canoe-house system. Its strategic location within the Niger Delta connected its people to wider commercial networks and contributed to the development of a distinctive political and cultural civilisation.
Sokoto, meanwhile, occupies a central place in the history of Northern Nigeria. The Sokoto Caliphate emerged from the movement led by Sheikh Usman dan Fodio, beginning in 1804, and developed into one of the most influential political and intellectual formations in nineteenth-century West Africa.
Although the two institutions emerged from different historical circumstances, both continue to embody traditions of leadership, identity and community authority that remain relevant to contemporary Nigeria.
The meeting between Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari
and the Sultan therefore represents an opportunity to strengthen relations across geographical, cultural and religious boundaries while respecting the distinct histories of both institutions.
For Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari, the forthcoming SE DIYE ceremony provides an opportunity to celebrate that inheritance while drawing attention to the responsibilities that accompany natural leadership.
His visit to the Sultan of Sokoto places that responsibility within a broader national context: the need for traditional institutions to build relationships that encourage understanding and strengthen the bonds connecting Nigeria’s peoples.
THE SOKOTO CALIPHATE AND THE CONTINUING ROLE OF THE SULTANATE
The Sultanate of Sokoto remains one of Nigeria’s most prominent traditional institutions.
Its historical roots lie in the Sokoto Caliphate, established following the movement led by Sheikh Usman dan Fodio in the early nineteenth century. The Caliphate developed an extensive system of religious scholarship, administration and emirate governance before British conquest ended its independent political authority in 1903.
The Sultanate nevertheless endured as an institution of religious and traditional significance.
His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, occupies a prominent position in Nigeria’s traditional and religious landscape. His office provides an important platform for engagement on matters of culture, peaceful coexistence and national cohesion.
The visit by Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari underscores the importance of direct engagement between traditional leaders whose influence extends beyond their immediate communities.
It also reinforces the principle that Nigeria’s cultural diversity should serve as a foundation for mutual recognition and cooperation.
SE DIYE: AN INVITATION TO BUGUMA
A major highlight of the visit was Da Amakiri Tubo’s personal invitation to the Sultan of Sokoto to attend SE DIYE on Saturday, December 19, 2026, at King Amachree Memorial Hall, Buguma, Rivers State.
The occasion will mark the final coronation and ascension ceremony associated with Da Amakiri Tubo’s reign as Amanyanabo of The Source, Elem Kalabari, Torusarama Piri.
SE DIYE is being positioned as a landmark cultural gathering that will bring together traditional rulers, political leaders, public officials, members of the Kalabari diaspora and other distinguished guests to celebrate the history, identity and enduring traditions of the Kalabari people.
For Elem Kalabari, the ceremony represents an opportunity to reaffirm its cultural heritage and bring renewed attention to the historical significance of The Source.
The invitation to the Sultan adds a wider national dimension to the occasion. His attendance, alongside other monarchs, distinguished personalities would provide a powerful expression of friendship between two traditional institutions and an opportunity to celebrate Nigeria’s cultural plurality.
Da Amakiri Tubo’s decision to personally deliver the invitation reflects the importance he attaches to building relationships through direct engagement and mutual respect.
The invitation is not simply about attendance at a royal ceremony. It is an opportunity to open a new chapter of interaction between Elem Kalabari and Sokoto, with possibilities for reciprocal visits, cultural exchanges, historical documentation and engagement between younger generations.
BUILDING BRIDGES BEYOND ROYAL COURTESIES
The meeting also highlights the potential contribution of traditional institutions to Nigeria’s continuing search for stronger national cohesion.
Across the country, traditional rulers remain important custodians of cultural memory, community identity and inherited systems of leadership. Their engagement can help preserve historical knowledge, encourage dialogue and create opportunities for cooperation among communities with different traditions.
For Elem Kalabari and Sokoto, a stronger relationship could create opportunities for cultural and educational exchanges, discussions on heritage preservation and greater awareness of the historical contributions of their respective peoples.
Such a relationship would derive its strength not merely from ceremonial encounters but from the willingness of both institutions to sustain meaningful engagement.
The meeting therefore offers an opportunity to move beyond symbolism and establish a foundation for continuing friendship.
It is also a reminder that the preservation of cultural identity and the promotion of national unity are not opposing objectives. Nigeria can celebrate the distinctiveness of its many peoples while encouraging the relationships that bring them closer together.
A NEW CHAPTER IN AN ENDURING NATIONAL STORY
The royal visit to Sokoto represents an important opportunity for Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari
to place the heritage of Elem Kalabari within a broader national conversation about friendship, cultural recognition and the future of traditional institutions.
As preparations continue for SE DIYE, the engagement with the Sultan reinforces the importance of connecting the restoration of cultural pride with the larger aspirations of peace, development and national unity.
The legacy of King Amakiri I remains an important part of the historical memory of Elem Kalabari. The legacy of the Sokoto Caliphate continues to inform the standing of the Sultanate. Their histories are distinct, but the contemporary relationship being cultivated between their institutions can create a shared contribution to Nigeria’s future.
For Buguma, December 19 will be a day of cultural significance. For the wider country, the invitation extended in Sokoto carries a broader message: that Nigeria’s traditional institutions can build bridges across its many communities and help strengthen the relationships on which a more united nation depends.
The visit has opened an opportunity for Elem Kalabari and Sokoto to deepen their friendship, honour their respective histories and demonstrate the enduring value of dialogue between Nigeria’s traditional institutions.
From the historic waterways of the Niger Delta to the ancient seat of the Sokoto Caliphate, the message is one of friendship, mutual respect and a shared commitment to the Nigerian project.
SE DIYE holds on Saturday, December 19, 2026, at King Amachree Memorial Hall, Buguma, Rivers State.
By; Al Humphrey Onyanabo,
The Storyteller,
08109975621
