Senator Yari Joins Sultan of Sokoto, Governor Lawal at Commissioning of Reconstructed Sambo Dan-Ashafa Jumu’at Mosque in Gusau

Distinguished Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari joined His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, His Excellency, Governor Dauda Lawal Dare of Zamfara State, and Distinguished Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima at the official commissioning of the reconstructed Sambo Dan-Ashafa Jumu’at Mosque in Gusau on Friday, 2 October 2026.

The occasion brought together traditional rulers, religious scholars, political leaders and members of the community in a celebration of faith, unity and service to humanity.

A mosque restored to its community

The Sambo Dan-Ashafa Jumu’at Mosque has long been part of the religious life of Gusau. For generations of worshippers, it is where the community gathers for Friday prayers, where children are taught, where marriages are blessed and where people come together in times of joy and of grief.

Its reconstruction gives the mosque a new life. The completed building, with its twin minarets and spacious prayer hall, can now receive a far larger congregation in comfort. For the families who live around it and the many who travel from other parts of the city to pray there, the commissioning marked the end of a long wait and the return of a place that matters deeply to them.

Mosques in northern Nigeria are never only places of worship. They are centres of learning, meeting points for the community and, often, the first place people turn to when they need help. A well-kept mosque in the heart of a city strengthens all of those roles.

The Sultan’s presence

The presence of the Sultan of Sokoto gave the occasion particular significance. As President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s Muslims, His Eminence carries an authority that reaches far beyond the Sokoto Caliphate.

His attendance in Gusau underlined the importance of the mosque to the wider Muslim community and the close ties between Zamfara and the Sultanate. For Senator Yari, who holds the traditional title of Marafan Sokoto, those ties are personal as well as historical. The Senator has maintained a close relationship with the Sultanate throughout his public life, and he led a delegation of the APC Presidential Campaign Council to pay a courtesy visit to His Eminence in Sokoto in September.

The Sultan has consistently used his office to call for peace, tolerance and unity among Nigerians of all faiths and regions. The gathering in Gusau, bringing together leaders who do not always share the same political platform, reflected that message.

Leaders across the divide

One of the most notable features of the commissioning was the company it brought together. Governor Dauda Lawal Dare leads the Zamfara State Government. Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima governed Zamfara from 1999 to 2007 as the state’s first civilian governor. Senator Yari succeeded to that office in 2011 and served two terms until 2019, and today represents Zamfara West in the Senate.

Their presence side by side, together with the Sultan, sent a clear signal. Whatever differences exist in politics, the leaders of Zamfara can stand together where faith, community and the welfare of the people are concerned. That is a message many residents of Gusau will have welcomed.

Senator Yari has often spoken about the need for unity in Zamfara, a state that has faced serious challenges in recent years. Occasions such as this one, where the focus is on worship and the common good, are a reminder of what the people of the state share.

Faith and public service

For Senator Yari, faith and public service have always been closely connected. During his time as Governor, his administration's programmes covered roads, schools, health facilities and water supply across Zamfara.

As a Senator, his work continues through the A. A. Yari Scholarship Initiative, which helps students meet the cost of tertiary education, agricultural input support for farmers, flood recovery support for families in Gummi and outreach to communities across Zamfara West. In the Senate, he chairs the Committee on Water Resources and Sanitation.

Attending occasions such as this one is part of how he stays close to the people he represents. Whether it is a commissioning, a prayer gathering or a visit to community elders, the Senator makes a point of standing with the people of Zamfara at the moments that matter to them, and of honouring the institutions that hold their communities together.

A celebration of the community

The commissioning drew a large crowd. Worshippers, community leaders, Islamic scholars and residents filled the grounds and the prayer hall, joining their leaders in prayers for the mosque, for Gusau, for Zamfara and for Nigeria.

There were prayers for peace and security in the state, for the families who have suffered from insecurity and for the success of all those working to restore stability to Zamfara. There were also prayers of gratitude for the completion of the project and for all who contributed to it.

For many in attendance, the day was as much about the community as about the building. The reconstruction of the Sambo Dan-Ashafa Jumu’at Mosque is a shared achievement, and the people of Gusau celebrated it together.

Engagements in Gusau

During his stay in Gusau, Senator Yari also called on respected elders in the city, continuing the tradition of consultation and respect for elders that has guided his public life. Such visits allow him to hear directly from those whose experience and wisdom carry weight in the community, and to share his own perspective on the work ahead for Zamfara and the nation.

Looking ahead

The commissioning of the Sambo Dan-Ashafa Jumu’at Mosque comes at a time when Senator Yari carries significant national responsibility as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. In recent weeks his work has taken him to palaces, meetings and consultations across the country, from Lagos and Benin to Maiduguri and Sokoto.

Yet his return to Gusau for this occasion shows that Zamfara remains at the centre of his commitments. The people of the state, their institutions and their places of worship continue to hold a special place in his heart.

The Office of Senator Abdul’aziz Yari congratulates the people of Gusau on the completion of the mosque, prays that it will continue to serve as a centre of worship, learning and unity for generations to come, and commends all those who made the reconstruction possible.

May Almighty Allah accept the efforts of everyone involved and continue to bless Gusau, Zamfara State and Nigeria with peace and progress.

Photographs from the commissioning are available in the gallery.