Times were, before the advent of democracy and the military interregnums, traditional institutions were referred with awe. Even our colonial masters who profess civilisation, such as Britain and Spain are still tied to their monarchs with state powers and respect
Indeed, in some traditions, monarchs were considered as next to God with unquestionable and awesome powers. In Yorubaland, they are referred to as Kabiyesi (who dares question your authority). But events in the last century, with active connivance of state actors, actions tilted towards the erosion of the powers and demystification of monarchical institutions have been on the upward swing.
The latest of such audacity by political actors was the removal of Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, and his predecessor, Alhaji Lamido Sanusi, who was earlier sacked to pave way for Alhaji Bayero, reinstated. Events leading to these were clearly, according to watchers, politically motivated.
Without boring readers with history of removals, reinstatement and banishments, it is necessary to delve into the latest political maneuvering orchestrated against the highly referred Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.
Keen observers of the unfolding drama are apprehensive of the build up as it was believed to be a precursor to whittling down the influence of the Sultan.
To stop the state government in its track, an influential muslim group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has alleged that the amendment was an attempt to diminish the influence of the Sultan. The human rights organization argued that it is the section of the chieftaincy law which empowers the governor to remove the Sultan that should be amended.
MURIC’s condemnation of the new bill was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, 26th June, 2024 by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
According to the group there were reports that the Sokoto State House of Assembly is currently rushing through a bill which it called Emirate Council Amendment Bill. The bill has passed through the first and second readings within a very short period. “If passed into law, the Sultan of Sokoto will be stripped of certain powers including that of appointing the kingmakers and district heads without government approval.
“The state government came out to deny any plan to remove the Sultan but we can all see what it is doing secretly now. What explanation does the governor have for the sudden interest in hijacking the Sultanate Council? This is further evidence that Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State is deceiving Nigerian Muslims. It is manifestations of a strange crave for absolute power.”
Weighing on the position of MURIC, Chairman of Ekiti State Muslim Traditional Rulers Council and Attah of Aiyede kingdom, Oba Alhaji AbdulMumini Adebayo Orishagbemi, said in a statement circulated to the media during the week that there was no way such idea could fly because the Sultan is not of Sokoto alone but of the entire country.
The statement, personally signed by one of 16 most powerful traditional rulers in Ekiti State, stated, “The throne of the Sultan should not be subjected to political whims and caprice. Also, the Chief Imam of Akure, Ondo State, Sheikh Abdulhakeem Yayi Akorede, called on the governor of Sokoto State to respect the office of the Sultan.
Sheikh Akorede described the plan as not palatable, Akorede said, “I believe that politicians behind this sound of sadness are better stopped before it is too late.
Echoing the sentiment of Oba Òrìsàgbemi, Akorede insisted that the Sultan is not of Sokoto Caliphate alone, but that of the entire country and the Supreme Leader of over 100 million Muslim Ummah, whose influence extends beyond the shores of Nigeria.
Similarly, Igbo Muslims have also thrown their hats into the ring, calling on Sokoto governor to tow the path of peace and reconciliation.
The South-East Muslim Community Forum, led by Dr Baron Ogbonnia Ajah, has urged the Governor Ahmad Aliyu to employ diplomatic means and dialogue to resolve any perceived disagreement with the monarch.
The Attah of Ayede kingdom averred, “On behalf of all Muslim traditional rulers in Ekiti State and, by extension, Yorubaland, I declare our rejection of the plans to dethrone the Sultan and call on all Muslims in South West and across Nigeria to set a day aside for fasting and prayers for the protection and safety of the Sultan and his Usmaniyyah throne against the plots of enemies, who have decided in their own wishful thinking to bring down the doing-well leader, over some flimsy untenable excuses, for refusing to get involved in playing politics.
Sheikh Akorede in his statement, which he personally signed said,
“This is a privilege that no politician of Sokoto State would want to be connected with losing.
“The Sultan is a leader who deserves respect from any angle, a traditional leader and most importantly a renowned religious leader within Nigeria and up to the world arena, being the Co-President of the World Religions for Peace Headquarters in New York.
SEMCOF on its part said that although Governor Aliyu, through his aides, had denied ever mulling the thought to either depose nor whittle down the powers of the Sultan as reported, his actions and that of his government confirmed the worries of Nigerians, who insisted that the head of the throne once installed is no longer property of Sokoto but of the entire Nigeria.
In a statement, SEMCOF Secretary-General, Dr. Isiaka Salmon, insisted that disrespecting the office of a monarch of the stature of the Sultan of Sokoto, who is also the President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs and the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, to the extent of thinking he can be removed at will of any political class is something that should not happen.
He said, “The Forum has observed with discomfort the viral stories circulating around about the intention of the state government to dethrone the reverend traditional ruler, the Sultan of Sokoto, who also doubled as the President-General of the NSCIA and JNI.
For the avoidance of doubt the Sultan is not just a traditional ruler, but the spiritual head of all muslims in Nigeria and beyond. Many people forget that the Sultan is not the Sultan of Sokoto town or Sokoto State.
He is, actually the Sultan of Sokoto Caliphate. He, even with the deliberate weakening and derogation of the Caliphate by imperialists and their boys, remains the leader of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria
Sultan of Sokoto, aside being the President of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council and Co-Chairman of the National Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NTRCN), remains permanent President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Co-Chairman of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).
All of these positions are so sensitive that, if the Sokoto State politicians do not rescind the attempt to politicize the office of the Supreme Leader of Nigerian Muslim Ummah, they will set an extreme bad precedence, a war against national peace and unity..
Feelers from Sokoto State points to the resolution of the impasse before Tuesday, July 2, 2024, sitting of the state house of Assembly. it is hoped that reason will prevail and the escalating tension will be doused. A source privy to a meeting brokered by a prominent and influential Islamic cleric in the state said the Governor has agreed to soften his stance and allow peace to reign in the state.