Sultan Maccido’s family urges tolerance 20 years after death

The family of the late Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Maccido, has called for increased tolerance and dialogue to address Nigeria's security challenges and social tensions, 20 years after his death in a plane crash on October 29, 2006. Sultan Maccido, who ruled from 1996 until his death, emphasized the importance of consultation, mutual understanding, and service to humanity in his leadership approach.

His son and grandson were among the 96 people who perished in the crash of an ADC Airlines Boeing 737 shortly after take-off from Abuja. The family has urged Nigerian leaders to learn from Maccido's principles of dialogue over confrontation and peaceful coexistence, particularly in the context of current security and communal issues.

His commitment to interfaith relations, education, and public health projects, including campaigns against polio and HIV/AIDS, further underscored his belief in the role of traditional institutions in improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians. The Sultan's preference for listening, consultation, and consensus-building was described by former President Shehu Shagari, who held him in high regard as a patient and consultative leader.