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Nigeria gets new Islamic leader Nigeria gets new Islamic leader
(40 minutes later)
A new Sultan of Sokoto, the spiritual leader of Nigeria's 70m Muslims, has been announced.A new Sultan of Sokoto, the spiritual leader of Nigeria's 70m Muslims, has been announced.
He is Colonel Sada Abubakar, the son of the late sultan Abubakar III and a military attache in Pakistan. He is Colonel Sada Abubakar,53, brother of Sultan Mohammadu Maccido, who was killed in a plane crash on Sunday, along with 95 others.
The late Sultan Mohammadu Maccido was killed in a plane crash on Sunday, along with 95 others. Col Abubakar had been serving as Nigeria's military attache to Pakistan.
Like all sultans, Col Abubakar is descended from Uthman Dan Fodio, who led a 19th Century jihad to spread Islam across northern Nigeria.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 Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa for the final decision. The BBC's Ardo Abdullah Hazzad in the northern city of Sokoto, says that thousands of people have gathered to celebrate the appointment outside the imposing sultan's palace.
Thousands of people have been gathered outside the sultan's palace in the northern state of Sokoto since Sunday to present their condolences over the late sultan's death. Kingmakers
Col Abubakar is to greet the crowds after earlier going to thank Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa for naming him as the 20th sultan.
Col Abubakar was chosen by a group of traditional rulers, known as kingmakers, who passed a shortlist of three to Mr Bafarawa for the final decision.
Col Abubakar was top of the list and so the governor was expected to select him.
The sultan's role includes announcing the start and the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Nigeria.
The late sultan was widely respected for trying to ease tensions between Nigeria's Muslim and Christians communities, which occasionally spill over into sectarian violence.