‘I Am Willing To Accept Any Law’ – Sultan Breaks Silence On Alleged Plot To Remove Him

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III has finally broken silence on the proposed amendment of Sokoto State Local Government Law 2008.

Osun Defender recalls that the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Council, Prof. Isiaq Akintola, had raised the alarm that the Sokoto government was planning to depose the Sultan.

He cited the removal of 15 traditional rulers for various offences by the state Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, in April.

The state government, however, denied any plan to dethrone the monarch, describing the allegation as false.

READ: Sultan Lacks Constitutional Authority To Make Appointments – Sokoto Govt

The state Commissioner for Information, Sambo Danchadi, explained that the law guiding the appointment of traditional rulers in the state had not been changed.

However, speaking on Tuesday during the just concluded public hearing on the Local Government Law 2009 amendment bill held at the Mini chamber of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, the Sultan expressed his willingness and commitment to accept any law so approved by the Sokoto state Government.

The Sultan was represented at the public hearing by a Kingmaker and member of the Sultanate council Dr Muhammadu Jabbi Kilgori.

If the bill scales through, the Sultan will be suppressing all powers to appoint or dethrone any traditional ruler in the state.

According to the state Attorney General and commissioner of Justice Nasiru Mohammed Binji, the power to Appoint District, village heads, and any other person to work with traditional institutions is vested in the power of the executive based on section 5 subsection 2 of the constitution of the Federal Republic.

He said is acting on the provisions of the constitution which is supreme which stipulates clearly that the power to appoint a District or village head is within the ambit of the executive and the state Governor is the only person who exercise the executive power of a state.

Binji stated that the new law if amended would enhance the general administration of local Government and Chieftaincy matters.