MURIC Warns Against Alleged Plan To Depose Sultan

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) had called on the Sokoto State House of Assembly to review the state’s chieftaincy laws to exempt the alleged plan to depose the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.

MURIC made the call while raising concerns about an alleged plan by the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, to depose the Sultan.

MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof. Isiaq Akintola, in a statement on Monday, expressed alarm over the potential move, which comes amid controversy and tension following the deposition of several monarchs in Kano State.

Osun Defender reports that Governor Aliyu had previously removed 15 traditional rulers for various offences.

Akintola stated, “Nigerian Muslims reject any thought of deposing the Sultan. Feelers in circulation indicate that the governor may descend on the Sultan of Sokoto any moment from now using any of the flimsy excuses used to dethrone the 15 traditional rulers whom he removed earlier.”

He stressed that the Sultan’s role is not only traditional but also religious, extending beyond Sokoto to cover all Nigerian Muslims as their spiritual head.

Akintola cautioned Aliyu against provoking Nigerian Muslims into drastic action, citing historical precedent.

“MURIC advises the governor to look before he leaps. The Sultan’s stool is not only traditional. It is also religious. In the same vein, his jurisdiction goes beyond Sokoto. It covers the whole of Nigeria. He is the spiritual head of all Nigerian Muslims.

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“A military governor, Colonel Yakubu Muazu, exposed this soft underbelly when he deposed Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki on 20th April 1996. Nigerian Muslims will be forced to make a hard decision if Sokoto governors continue to diminish the authority of the Sultan.”

He further said, “For the avoidance of any doubts, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar is not only the Sultan of Sokoto but the Sultan of the Nigerian people.

“His performance and style of leadership have warmed him into the hearts of Nigerians.”

Akintola suggested that if Sokoto’s leadership continues to undermine the Sultan, Nigerian Muslims might shift towards selecting Islamic scholars as their leaders instead of traditional rulers.

“It will be a farewell to the leadership of traditional rulers over the NSCIA and an irreversible departure from Sokoto’s privileged leadership position. But history will not be kind to Col. Yakubu Muazu and Ahmed Aliyu for ruining the chances of Sokoto.

“Once is happenstance, twice is a coincidence, and the third time is enemy action. If the deposition of a Sultan and NSCIA leader happens a second time, Nigerian Muslims will not allow the embarrassment to happen a third time.”

“MURIC reiterates its call on the Sokoto State House of Assembly to either repeal or review the state’s chieftaincy laws by adding the phrase ‘except the Sultan of Sokoto’ to Section 6, Cap 26 of the Laws of Northern Nigeria which empowers the state governor to depose the emirs including the Sultan.”