Amid MURIC opposition, Sokoto Emirate Council amendment bill scales second reading in state assembly

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the Sokoto State House of Assembly’s decision to pass the Emirate Council Amendment Bill, which aims to curtail the authority of the Sultan of Sokoto.

The proposed legislation, which advanced to its second reading on Wednesday, seeks to modify the Emirate Council Law, necessitating the Sultan to secure official authorization from the government prior to appointing individuals to key positions, including kingmakers and district heads.

According to Persecondnews, MURIC warned on Monday that the state government planned to remove the Sultan of Sokoto, purportedly in line with the recent removal of 15 traditional rulers from their positions in Kano due to various infractions.

The Sokoto State Government, however, denied any plot to remove the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, describing it as false and baseless.

The proposed changes, perceived as an infringement on the Sultan’s traditional authority and autonomy, have sparked concerns about a potential confrontation between the State Government and the Sultanate Council.

The state government has justified the decision, stating that it intends to enhance transparency, accountability, and good governance within the emirate’s administration, ensuring that the appointments of key officials are made in a fair and responsible manner, free from undue influence or bias.

Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the Executive Director of MURIC, alleged in a statement that the government’s move is a deliberate attempt to erode the authority and undermine the legitimacy of the Sultanate Council, thereby threatening the very foundations of the traditional institution and the cultural heritage it represents.

Akintola said: “The bill is outrageous, nauseating, and anachronistic. It is a direct attack on the traditional institution of Sokoto State. Instead of entrenching the powers of the Sultan, it is an undisguised attempt at weakening his powers and making him less relevant in the scheme of traditional settings.

“The governor is preparing the ground for dismantling the Sultanate Council and setting up his own personal Sultanate Council, a council that will be totally controlled from the Government House. That is the only logical explanation for his removal of 15 traditional rulers in a single day.

“Ahmed Aliyu is exhibiting the symptoms of fascism, totalitarianism, and prebendalism. Nigerian Muslims are already asking, ‘Why the rush?’ Why are they rushing the bill if there is no hidden agenda? The whole exercise is suggestive of political motivation.

“Power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely. We appeal to lawmakers in the Sokoto State House of Assembly to halt the progress of the current bill. Instead, they should turn to the section of the state’s chieftaincy law that empowers the governor to remove the Sultan with a view to amending it in such a way that will exempt the Sultan from dethronement.”