The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has voiced concerns over alleged plans by the Sokoto State government to dethrone Muhammad Abubakar as the Sultan of Sokoto, Nigeria’s highest Islamic traditional and religious leader.
In a statement released on Monday, Ishaq Akintola, founder and executive director of MURIC, expressed apprehension about the strained relationship between Governor Ahmad Aliyu and the Sultan, citing the recent dethronement of 15 traditional rulers by the governor in April 2024.
MURIC emphasized the significance of the Sultan’s position, noting that he serves as the head of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), a role that carries religious authority over Nigerian Muslims nationwide.
The statement cautioned Governor Aliyu against taking actions that could lead to unrest among Nigerian Muslims, warning against what it described as potential “flimsy excuses” to remove the Sultan from office.
“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,” the statement read.
The Islamic group urged the Sokoto State House of Assembly to amend the state chieftaincy law to include provisions protecting the Sultan from arbitrary removal.
Efforts to reach Abubakar Bawa, the chief press secretary to Governor Aliyu, for comments on the allegations were unsuccessful as calls and text messages to his mobile phone went unanswered at the time of publication.
The situation has sparked concerns among stakeholders about potential implications for religious harmony and stability in Sokoto State and beyond, as the controversy unfolds amid ongoing political developments in the region.