Nigerian Muslim rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has raised alarm over alleged plot by Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, to remove the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.
MURIC’s Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, expressed concern in a statement issued on Monday, citing anxieties following the recent dethronement of several monarchs in Kano State. Governor Aliyu had previously dismissed 15 traditional rulers for various offenses, according to the statement.
“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,” Akintola stated.
Professor Akintola emphasized the Sultan’s dual role – both as a traditional leader and the spiritual head of Nigerian Muslims.
“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” he said.
The statement warned Governor Aliyu against provoking a reaction from Nigerian Muslims.
“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,” the statement said.
MURIC further emphasized the Sultan’s national significance saying, “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.”
MURIC warned that continued attempts to undermine the Sultan could lead to a shift in leadership for Nigerian Muslims.
“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.
“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,” MURIC declared.
The statement urged the Sokoto State House of Assembly to amend the state’s chieftaincy laws to grant immunity to the Sultan.
“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 added.
The statement also called upon Northern Nigerian elites and Islamic scholars to intervene and prevent the situation from escalating saying, “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 favour of immunity for the office of the Sultan in a single day to save Nigerian Muslims from humongous embarrassment.”
The Sokoto State Government has yet to respond to the allegations. However, they previously announced plans to amend section 76 of the local government and chieftaincy law, though details remain unclear.