Sokoto government revokes Sultan’s power to appoint district and village heads

Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Thursday signed into law the amended local government and chieftaincy bill and five other laws in the state.

The amended law revokes the Sultan’s authority to appoint district and village heads in the state.

Other laws are the Sokoto State Property Law, Zakkat and Waqf Law, and two other laws.

The governor has been criticized in recent days over alleged plots to overthrow the Sultan, who is President General of the country’s Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.

In his speech at the ceremony, Aliyu said the new law was not designed to go after any particular individual or group, but to strengthen good governance in the state.

He advised the clerics not to fall into the trap of “lazy politicians” who are determined to achieve political goals through falsehood.

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The governor stressed that his administration would continue to listen to the longings and aspirations of the state’s people.

Aliyu said: “We recognise with concern the unnecessary tensions that our proposals to amend some of these laws have created.

“Some of the reactions were politically motivated while others were done foolishly without bothering to ask the right people about the details and intent of the amendments.

“It is common knowledge that in every society, laws are established and changed to suit the needs of the times and the interests of the governed according to existing circumstances.

“The previous administration had amended one law or another in the state to give the state laws the needed touch that would accelerate peace and development.

“I need to emphasize that the newly amended law is not intended to persecute any particular individual or group, but rather to promote good governance and eliminate ambiguities and inconsistencies with the country’s constitution.”

Sokoto Govt strips Sultans of power to appoint district and village chiefs first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.