While the Kano Emirate stool is still being contended by Emir Ado Bayero and Emir Lamido Sanusi III, alarm bells have been set off by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) with respect to Sokoto stool. The organization alleges the Sokoto State governor, Ahmed Aliyu, may be plotting to remove Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III – the Sultan of Sokoto.
In Nigeria, the Sultan is viewed as the highest Islamic cleric, and one of its foremost traditional rulers.
The statement from MURIC on Monday, signed by its Executive Director, Prof. Isiaq Akintola, may have been necessitated by recent removals of at least fifteen traditional Sultanate chiefs by Gov. Aliyu, citing various alleged transgressions. The governor is also said to be pushing to amend Section 76 of the state’s local government and chieftaincy law. MURIC fears an amendment may be used to bolster the governor’s move against the Sultan.
Under the current law, the Sultanate Council appoints district and village heads although it is merely advisory. The government wants to take full responsibility for the appointments.
Whatever the case, Mr. Akintola warns, Nigerian Muslims will no longer accept the trivializing of the revered Sultanate stool.
Fear of Déjà Vu
MURIC’s apprehension is based on historical precedents, such as when Gov. Col. Yakubu Muazu of Sokoto deposed the previous Sultan, Ibrahim Dasuki in 1996 on the orders of then Nigeria’s strongman, Gen. Sani Abacha.
MURIC says the continuous diminishment of the Sultan’s authority could compel Nigerian Muslims to reject traditional rulers as leaders of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and opt for Islamic scholars instead.
“Nigerian Muslims North and South of the country may be constrained to pick Islamic scholars only as President General of the NSCIA and overall leader of Nigerian Muslims.
“It will be farewell to the leadership of traditional rulers over the NSCIA and an irreversible departure from Sokoto’s priviledged leadership position. But history will not be kind to Col. Yakubu Muazu and Ahmed Aliyu for ruining the chances of Sokoto.
“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”, according to a statement.
Continuing, “Therefore, 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”.
Demand To Protect The Sultan
MURIC called on the Sokoto State House of Assembly if it wants to amend anything, to amend the state’s chieftaincy laws to exempt the Sultan from potential deposition. They urged Northern leaders to quickly intervene.
“For the avoidance of any doubts”, MURIC continued, “Sultan Muhammad Sa’d 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.
“Once is happenstance, twice is a coincidence, 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.
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