Newari, Sir! Congratulations.

The Gangwari Ganye Chiefdom, HRH Alhaji Umaru Adamu Sanda II, OON, Chancellor Taraba State University, Jalingo, Newari, Sir! Congratulations. I have been to many palaces especially in Northern Nigeria; the revered Palace of the Sultan of Sokoto during my official courtesy call on the then Sultan Muhammad Maccido, 2004 in company of my vice principal and other senior staff of FGC Sokoto. We were led by a former Federal Minister, Alhaji Isa Muhammad, a friend of the School and Confident of the Sultanate then. We held a two hour parley with the Sultan Maccido, touching on wide areas; Adamawa and Sokoto relations, congratulating me on resuming as Principal FGC Sokoto, Education in Northern Nigeria and indeed Nigeria, brief history of Sokoto, his life and times, civil service, public service, as commissioner in Sokoto State and as the Sultan of Sokoto. A very amiable, down to earth, simple, unassuming personality who made you feel at home instantly. I left Sokoto after retirement in January 2006 and relocated to Yola my state Capital. The Sultan Maccido passed barely five months after I left Sokoto, 2006 in an airplane accident. May his soul rest in perfect peace.Amin.

As student of ABU Zaria I had the opportunity to visit the palace of the Emir of Zazzau on several occasions including Sallah celebrations, student protest letters etc. I noted the historical and cultural relevance of the palace and their occupants.

Also as student of science school in Lagos, I was opportuned to see the Palace of the Oba of Lagos. I noted the cultural atmosphere and the reverence of the stool by the subjects.

Early in my life I saw the miniature palaces of Mai Anguwa, Jimilla and Hakimi in Anguwa Wakili Julde in the center of Gambe, my father's zaure that served as the miniature palace all in Gambe. I saw the District Head of Tola Palace, a makeshift bigger zaure with the attached Rumfa for congregation before seeing the Hakimi in the zaure which served as the court, palace. These lower level palaces had not the modern glamour and expensive furniture as seen today in the Jimilla and District palaces.

I.visited many medium and high ranking palaces and interacted with the occupants in our region and the North East; the palace of the Kororrofa Kingdom Wukari. As Principal GSS Wukari, Ibbi road, I had courtesy visit to the Aku Uka, first as the Principal and next as a Chamba man where we parleyed privately for over one hour. My second time in Wukari as VP FGC Wukari saw me visiting the palace of Aku Uka of the time on a courtesy call. I noted the reverence and the cultural displays and palace ewe.

I was also in the Palace of the Chief of Takum 1979/80 as Principal of GSS Takium, 1980. We interacted privately for a long time. I indeed undertook nearly weekly visits to the palace every Friday before I was transferred to Yola, then Gongola State Capital in 1980/81. I also noted the reverence of the Palace and iits occupant.

In Jalingo, as the Coordinating Inspector Education, CIE, I had courtesy visit on the Emir. After which I had intermittent Friday visits to the Palace and noted the reverence and cultural relevance of the office. Shortly after I left Jalingo on transfer in 2003, my former student, the current Emir took over as Emir of Muri.

In Ganye Chiefdom, the first Gangwari Ganye, Alhaji Adamu Sanda 1, with whom I had fatherly and brotherly cordial relations, with countless visits to the palace. He earned the respect of the people of his domain and I had the honor of inviting the Royal Highness to my marriage in Ganye in 1976. He sent his highest ranking councilor, the Waziri of Ganye then , Mr. Dominic Mapeo who represented HRH at my wedding ceremony.

The present Gangwari, the elder son of Gangwari Ganye the first was a student at GSS Ganye, where I was a teacher in 1975/76. You Alhaji Umaru Adamu Sanda took over the reigns after the passing of the Gangwari the first. Mau the Almighty Allah have mercy on him. Amin.By coincidence again, you were my former student at GSS Ganye just as the Emir of Muri was my student at then GSS , now GMMC Yola in the early 1970s. While I eulogies your esteem positions as revered leaders of your various domains, I am particularly happy to see you appointed Chancellor Taraba State University Jalingo. Congratulations once more. I have penned down again another historical perspective.

Sa'adu Abubakar (Gambe).