The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has raised concerns about an alleged plan by Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State to depose the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III. This comes amid ongoing tension over the recent deposition of traditional rulers in Kano State.
In a statement released on Monday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof. Isiaq Akintola, expressed apprehension over what he described as potential “flimsy excuses” that could be used to dethrone the Sultan.
Akintola highlighted the significant role of the Sultan as both a traditional and religious leader, whose influence extends beyond Sokoto to all Nigerian Muslims.
“Any governor who tampers with the stool of the Sultan will have Nigerian Muslims to reckon with because the Sultan combines the office of the Sultan of Sokoto and that of the President General of the NSCIA,” Akintola warned.
He called on Governor Aliyu to reconsider any such move, emphasizing the profound implications it could have for Nigerian Muslims.
This warning follows Governor Aliyu’s recent deposition of 15 traditional rulers for various offenses.
Akintola underscored that Nigerian Muslims would not tolerate a repetition of the 1996 incident when a military governor deposed Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki.
In response to the alleged plan, MURIC has urged the Sokoto State House of Assembly to amend the state’s chieftaincy laws to protect the Sultan from deposition. Akintola called for immediate intervention by Northern elites and Islamic scholars to prevent potential unrest.
Meanwhile, the Sokoto State Government has not yet responded to MURIC’s allegations. However, it had previously announced plans to amend Section 76 of the local government and chieftaincy law to better align with prevailing practices.
Nasir Binji, the state’s attorney-general and commissioner for justice, stated that the proposed amendment would clarify the roles of the Sultanate Council and the state government in appointing district and village heads.
