Concerns have been expressed by Muslim Rights Concern regarding an alleged plot by Ahmed Aliyu, the governor of Sokoto State, to remove Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto.
Prof. Isiaq Akintola, the Executive Director of MURIC, voiced concern about the possible action in a statement on Monday. The decision comes amid tension and controversy following the deposition of numerous monarchs in Kano State.
Governor Aliyu had already ousted fifteen traditional leaders for a variety of transgressions.
Akintola stated, “Nigerian Muslims reject any thought of deposing the Sultan. Feelers in circulation indicate that the governor may descend on the Sultan of Sokoto any moment from now using any of the flimsy excuses used to dethrone the 15 traditional rulers whom he removed earlier.”
He emphasized that the Sultan serves as the spiritual leader of all Nigerian Muslims, a duty that goes beyond Sokoto and is both traditional and religious.
“MURIC advises the governor to look before he leaps. The Sultan’s stool is not only traditional. It is also religious. In the same vein, his jurisdiction goes beyond Sokoto. It covers the whole of Nigeria. He is the spiritual head of all Nigerian Muslims,” Akintola said.
Citing historical precedent, Akintola advised Aliyu against inciting Nigerian Muslims to take extreme measures.
“A military governor, Colonel Yakubu Muazu, exposed this soft underbelly when he deposed Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki on 20th April 1996. Nigerian Muslims will be forced to make a hard decision if Sokoto governors continue to diminish the authority of the Sultan.”
He further stated, “For the avoidance of any doubts, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar is not only the Sultan of Sokoto but the Sultan of the Nigerian people.
“His performance and style of leadership have warmed him into the hearts of Nigerians.”
Akintola hinted that Nigerian Muslims would start choosing Islamic scholars rather than established rulers as their leaders if Sokoto’s administration keeps undermining the Sultan.
“It will be a farewell to the leadership of traditional rulers over the NSCIA and an irreversible departure from Sokoto’s privileged leadership position. But history will not be kind to Col. Yakubu Muazu and Ahmed Aliyu for ruining the chances of Sokoto.”
He issued a warning, saying that persistent acts against the Sultan would not be accepted.
“Once is happenstance, twice is a coincidence, and the third time is enemy action. If the deposition of a Sultan and NSCIA leader happens a second time, Nigerian Muslims will not allow the embarrassment to happen a third time.”
In order to free the Sultan of Sokoto from the state’s chieftaincy rules, MURIC urged the Sokoto State House of Assembly to revise such laws.
“MURIC reiterates its call on the Sokoto State House of Assembly to either repeal or review the state’s chieftaincy laws by adding the phrase ‘except the Sultan of Sokoto’ to Section 6, Cap 26 of the Laws of Northern Nigeria which empowers the state governor to depose the emirs including the Sultan.”
Akintola implored Islamic scholars and Northern elites to step in immediately.
“This is the time to lobby the Sokoto State House of Assembly and the governor himself. If the chieftaincy laws of Kano State can be repealed within 24 hours, nothing stops that of Sokoto State from being reviewed in favor of immunity for the office of the Sultan in a single day to save Nigerian Muslims from humongous embarrassment.”
The claims made by MURIC have not yet received a response from the Sokoto State Government.
It had previously declared that it would modify section 76 of the local administration and chieftaincy statute to conform to state regulations.
Currently, the governor has the last say over selection of village and district heads, while the Sultanate Council makes recommendations.
