Dethroning the Sultan, a great disservice to the Nigerian Muslim Ummah.
By Fatih Lawal-Garu
Amidst alleged plans by the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu to dethrone the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh Sa’ad Abubakar, a Coalition of some Muslim Organisations have rallied to the support of the Sultan by describing all such attempts as a “dishonour to the Muslim Ummah” and not in the best interest of Sokoto State and its people.
In a press conference issued to journalists by the National Head of the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), Abdur-Rahman Balogun on behalf of 33 Muslim Groups and Associations in Nigeria on Thursday July 11, 2024 . He praised the Sultan’s efforts in unifying 150 million Nigerian Muslims, a feat no Sultan has done before him.
He expressed dismay that despite denials of dethroning the Sultan, the Sokoto State still went ahead with the Bill for the Amendment of the Sultanate Council Law which was passed hurriedly by the Sokoto State House of Assembly, a move that is clearly targeted “to curb the power and influence of the Sultan.”
He berated the Sokoto State Government for turning “deaf ears to the voice of wisdom” from important personalities in the country. The Sultan was described as a beacon of hope and spiritual head of Muslims not only in Nigeria but in Niger, Mali and other places.
They therefore demanded that the Sokoto State Government should further strengthen the powers of the Sultan, protect him from political manipulations and grant him immunity from dethronement.
They called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and political leaders to prevail on Governor Ahmad Aliyu to halt any incursions into the powers and influence of the Sultan.
“Let us come together in the spirit of unity and brotherhood to resolve our differences peacefully and respectfully. Let us uphold the principles of justice, fairness, and respect for tradition that have guided us for generations. We will not stand idly by while our beloved Sultan, and the throne he occupies, which is more than 200 years old, are unfairly targeted. We will continue to speak out against this injustice until the attempt to depose him or reduce his power are reversed.”
But despite outcries, Governor Ahmad Aliyu still went ahead to sign the bill to Law on Thursday. The bill has stripped the Sultan of appointing district, village heads. Governor Aliyu explained after signing the Sultanate Council Bill and five other Executive Bills, that they were not intended to target any individual or group but rather to promote good governance.
He said: “Some reactions were politically motivated, while others were made ignorantly without proper inquiry into the details and intentions of the amendments.”
“I appreciate our Ulama for their concern, but remind them that they represent Allah’s Messenger. They should not allow lazy politicians to use them for political gains,” he said.
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