From George Oji, Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto and Josephine Lohor in Abuja, 10.31.2006

President Olusegun Obas-anjo also yesterday visited the Sultanate where he eulogises the late Maccido saying his demise would be deeply felt while his deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, visited survivors of the crash at the National Hospital, Abuja.

In Sokoto, palace sources unofficially told THISDAY yesterday that Maccido's successor is expected to be named before the end of next week because, tradition and religion demands that you do not delay the filling of the office of the Sultan by leaving the people without a leader.・BR>Traditionally, every descendant of the Alhaji Uthman Dan Fodio lineage has a right to aspire to the office of the Sultan. However, the decision as to who finally emerges as the Sultan would be taken by the Sokoto State Governor, acting on the recommendations of the 10-man King Makers of the palace.

Though palace officials denied moves to commence the selection process of the next Sultan, since the Sultanate is still in mourning mood, THISDAY however gathered that some of the likely successors have begun to reach out to members of the King Makers.

According to information, those already reaching out are said to include those who missed the opportunity of clinching the coveted office when the late Maccido emerged ten years ago.

They are said to have again began to reach out to some of the king makers asking for their support ahead of their crucial meeting expected to take place this week after the official three day mourning period ends tomorrow.

Over the years, a few of the ruling houses in the Uthman Dan Fodio lineage have dominated the succession to the throne. These include the Mohammed Bello, Mohammed Buhari, Abubakar Atiku and Ahmadu Rufai Ruling Houses.

In deed, some of the current front runners for the office, THISDAY gathered, are drawn from the same four influential lineages, and they include Ambassador Shehu Malami, Alhaji Alhaji (former Finance Minister), Engineer Bello Suleiman (former Minister of Power and Steel and former Managing Director of NEPA), Alhaji Shehu Suleiman (Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Pensions, Office of the Head of Service) and Alhaji Aliyu Abdulrahaman.

Others include former ADC to former military President Ibrahim Baba-ngida, Col. Samo Dasuki, Col. Saad Abubakar 111, Baraden Sokoto, Moha-mmed Maccido, Muazu Abubakar and Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman, ( Sokoto state Finance Commissi-oner).

Palace sources disclosed to THISDAY that because the office of the Sultan is both spiritual and religious, whose influence cuts across the entire nation and the sub-continent, extra care has always been taken in choosing who emerges as the Sultan, adding this was why the King Makers and government were often urged to respect the wish of Allah and that of the people in choosing any new Sultan.・

In the past, considerations such as the aspirants・national and international clout, impeccable character, religious piousness and intellectual sagacity are some of the issues that have been brought to bear in the final decisions.

Unfortunately, one of the King Makers, Magajin Rafi was also involved in the Sunday's plane crash and would not be involved in this selection exercise.

The other King Makers who would be participating in the screening of the aspirants included the Waziri Sokoto, Magajin Gari, Galadima Gari, Sarkin Adar Dundaye and Baradin Wamakko. Others are Sarkin Yakin Binji, Ardo Dingyadi, Ardo Shuni and Sarkin Kabi Yabo.

The process for the selection of a new Sultan requires all the interested applicants to the office (who must be descendants of the Uthman Dan Fodio lineage) to indicate their interest by filing formal application to the King Makers.

The King Makers, sitting in council, then considers all the applications and makes recommendations to the State Governor, who then makes the final choice.

Meanwhile, President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday visited the Sultanate where he eulogises the late Maccido, saying his demise would be deeply felt, not only by the Sokoto people but the whole of Nigeria and the Nigerian muslim community.

The President also paid a condolence visit to the former President Shehu Shagari over the death of his son Abdurahman Shehu Shagari in the ill fated crash.
He said, 哲o human being can prevent what the Almighty God has destined. God has given and he has taken, we must continue to trust and believe in him, no matter the situation. God has a purpose for everything though we are human and may not comprehend things.・

BR>Similarly, former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, also described the late Sultan as a dedicated leader who has contributed in fostering unity among Nigerians.

He hailed the late Maccido for his tireless effort in service to humanity and stated that he is a humble person with a simplistic attitude to life and would be remembered for his great service to the Muslim Ummah.

In a related development, Vice President Atiku Abubakar has joined Nigerians to commiserate over the death of the Sultan and others who died in the ill-fated plane crash. He also yesterday visited survivors of the crash at the National Hospital, Abuja.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after personally seeing the survivors on their hospital beds, he said more needed to be done about rescue missions in the country.

The Vice President, who visited and spoke with each of the survivors at the National Hospital, had while praising the hospital for rising to the occasion, also advised the committee charged with finding out the cause of the plane crash to do a thorough and immediate job・

He expressed his believes that a lot needs to be done on the rescue situation because many lives would have been saved from the accounts received・ adding that there is need for us to go further. Even if it means daily checks on planes to ensure better safety.・

While condoling families and friends of all those who lost their lives in the crash, he said I am personally grieved because I have so many friends on the plane.・BR>The Vice President who stated that he is shocked over the incident, described the death of the Sultan as unfortunate, shocking and a calamity to the people of Sokoto State and to Nigerians at large.

He however, prayed Allah for the repose of the souls that perished, adding that Allah, in His infinite mercy, will grant their families the fortitude to bear the loss.