King Salman honours President Buhari, opens Holy Ka’aba for him

King Salman Al Saud of Saudi Arabia on Friday in Makkah opened the inner room of the Holy Mosque of Ka’aba for President Muhammadu Buhari as a mark of respect for the visiting Nigerian leader.
The King, who is also the custodian of the two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah, ordered the opening of the Ka’aba for Buhari and some members of his entourage around 1.45am (local time) on Friday.
The Ka’aba, a small but significant building for the Muslim world, is faced by all Muslims while performing obligatory prayers in Islam.
Among those privileged to enter the room of the Ka’aba with the President were the Governors of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari; Kashim Shettima of Borno State; Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; and Aminu Masari of Katsina State.
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II; Oba of Lagos, Alhaji Rilwan Akiolu; Emir of Maradun, Alhaji Garba Tambari; and Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Haliru Momoh, also entered the room.
Sheikh Ahmed Lemu, Alhaji Isa Funtua, Sheikh Yakubu Musa, Sheikh Nasidi Abubakar, Alhaji Badara Eze and Ismaila Yusuf Chafe were also among those privileged to offer prayers inside the room.
Other beneficiaries of the gesture were Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed Guardian, Abdul Sule, Muhammad Garba, Adamu Sambo, Garba Bello Gusau, Ibrahim Zanna, Salisu Murtala Isa, Adamu Akinola, Bukar Usman Goni and Nurudeen Yusuf.
The President and his entourage offered special prayers for peace, unity and prosperity of Nigeria in the mosque.
Sule, a beneficiary of the gesture, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, commended the Saudi King for giving them a lifetime opportunity to enter the inner part of the Ka’aba.
Sule said he used the opportunity given him by the King to pray for himself, family and Nigeria.
NAN reports that Buhari, who will be leaving Saudi Arabia for Qatar on Saturday, will be performing his Juma’at prayer at the Ka’aba on Friday.
NAN.