Dokubo-Asari Honours Sultan of Sokoto with Leadership Award, Seeks Royal Presence at December Coronation

The Amanyanabo of the Source, Elem Kalabari, in Rivers State, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, has honoured the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, with a Leadership Award in recognition of his contributions to peace, unity and responsible traditional leadership. The award was presented during a royal visit to the Sultan’s palace in Sokoto, where Dokubo-Asari also extended an invitation to the monarch to attend his forthcoming coronation ceremony.

The visit, reported in Nigerian media on October 21–23, 2026, was centred on strengthening relations between the Elem Kalabari traditional institution in the Niger Delta and the Sokoto Sultanate in northern Nigeria. It also highlighted the potential role of traditional rulers in promoting mutual respect, cultural understanding and peaceful coexistence across the country’s diverse communities.

Dokubo-Asari was accompanied by Alabo Prince Tonye Princewill, the Polo’Dabo of Da Ogo and Paramount Head of the Da Ogo Group of Houses, alongside other dignitaries and members of his entourage. The delegation was received at the Sultan’s palace, where the two traditional leaders exchanged courtesies and discussed their longstanding relationship.

The award ceremony also drew attention to the importance of cooperation among traditional institutions in addressing community concerns, preserving cultural heritage and encouraging peaceful relationships. Dokubo-Asari’s engagement with the Sultan reflected an effort to sustain ties between two traditional establishments with distinct histories and cultural identities.

Speaking during the visit, Dokubo-Asari disclosed that his relationship with the Sultan dated back several years. He revealed that they had undertaken the Hajj pilgrimage together on three or four occasions, highlighting the personal friendship underpinning the formal engagement between the two leaders.

The Rivers monarch also explained that the forthcoming ceremony would mark the completion of the traditional coronation process through which he would be formally presented to his people. Known by the title Da Amakiri Tubo, Dokubo-Asari is preparing for the Se Diye, or final coronation ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, December 19, 2026, at King Amachree Memorial Hall in Buguma, Rivers State.

During the meeting, Dokubo-Asari additionally informed the Sultan of the planned Nikkah ceremony of Princess Nene Amirah Dokubo-Asari, scheduled for December 18, 2026, a day before the coronation. The two consecutive events are expected to bring together family members, traditional leaders and other invited guests for the celebrations in Buguma.

In his response, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for the Leadership Award and the invitation. He also commended Dokubo-Asari for his reported humanitarian activities among Muslim and non-Muslim communities, noting that a leader’s elevation could reflect the positive impact of his work on the people.

The Sultan further described leadership as a responsibility entrusted by Almighty Allah and assured the visiting monarch of his support. He indicated that he would endeavour to attend the coronation, saying his participation would depend on the circumstances. His response conveyed goodwill towards the forthcoming ceremony, although his attendance should not be treated as unconditional confirmation.

The engagement brings into focus the historical significance of both traditional institutions. Elem Kalabari, located in the Niger Delta, has a heritage shaped by maritime commerce, riverine communities and traditional political structures, while Sokoto holds a prominent place in northern Nigeria’s history as the centre of the nineteenth-century Sokoto Caliphate. Their interaction offers an opportunity to encourage cultural exchange and deepen relationships across regional and religious boundaries.

As preparations continue for the December 19 coronation, the invitation to the Sultan represents more than a ceremonial courtesy. It provides an opportunity to reinforce personal ties between the two monarchs and encourage broader engagement between traditional institutions in different parts of Nigeria. The planned gathering in Buguma is expected to attract traditional rulers, community representatives and other dignitaries, placing the Elem Kalabari ceremony at the centre of renewed efforts to foster inter-community understanding and cooperation.