Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), insists that there is a plan to overthrow the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, although the state government rejects the plan.
MURIC, in a statement by its Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, on Monday, had sounded the alarm that the Sokoto State government was hatching secret plans to overthrow the Sultan and warned of the serious consequences such a move would bring.
“Feelings circulating suggest that the governor may abdicate the Sultan of Sokoto at any time from now using whatever lame excuses were used to depose the 15 traditional rulers he had previously removed.
“MURIC urges the governor to look before he leaps. The Sultan’s bench is not only traditional, but also religious. Likewise, its jurisdiction extends beyond Sokoto. It covers the whole of Nigeria. He is the spiritual leader of all Nigerian Muslims.
“Any governor who tampers with the Sultan’s seat must be reckoned with by Nigerian Muslims because the Sultan combines the offices of Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs of Nigeria,” MURIC said.
However, despite denying the allegations, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Community Reorientation, Hon. Sambo Bello Danchadi, said in a statement that the state government did not have any plans to oust Sultan, and described MURIC’s allegations as false and baseless.
However, in another statement on Wednesday, Akintola confirmed that Sultan was still the target of his deposition.
He noted that the bill, called the Sokoto Emirates Council Amendment Bill, has passed its first and second readings and if passed into law, the Sultan of Sokoto will be stripped of certain powers.
Akintola said the amendment to the bill was condemnable as it was an attempt to reduce the influence of the Sultan.
“There are reports that the Sokoto State House of Assembly is currently rushing to pass a bill called the Emirates Council Amendment Bill. “The bill has passed the first and second discussions in a very short time,” he said in his statement.
“If passed into law, the Sultan of Sokoto will be stripped of certain powers, including appointing kings and regents without government approval.
“This bill is outrageous, despicable and not in line with the times. This bill is a direct attack on the traditional institutions of Sokoto State. “Instead of strengthening the Sultan’s power, this bill is a blatant attempt to weaken his power and make him less relevant in the scheme of customary order,” added Akintola.
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