The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has issued a stark warning regarding an alleged plan by Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State to depose the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III. This claim, if true, could escalate tensions within the region and among the wider Muslim community in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Monday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Isiaq Akintola, expressed deep concern over the potential move. He highlighted that the warning comes at a time of heightened controversy and unrest following the deposition of several monarchs in neighboring Kano State.
Governor Aliyu has previously removed 15 traditional rulers for various alleged offences, a move that has already stirred significant debate and disquiet.
Akintola’s statement underscores the gravity of deposing the Sultan, emphasizing the Sultan’s dual role as both a traditional and a religious leader. “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,” Akintola warned.
He further advised Governor Aliyu to reconsider any such action, noting the significant implications it would have. “The Sultan’s stool is not only traditional; it is also religious. His jurisdiction goes beyond Sokoto; it covers the whole of Nigeria. He is the spiritual head of all Nigerian Muslims,” Akintola explained.
Akintola stressed that any attempt to interfere with the Sultan’s position would provoke a strong reaction from Nigerian Muslims nationwide. “Therefore, any governor who tampers with the stool of the Sultan will have Nigerian Muslims to reckon with because the Sultan combines the office of the Sultan of Sokoto and that of the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA),” he stated.
This statement from MURIC reflects the deep respect and importance attached to the Sultan’s role within the Muslim community in Nigeria. It also highlights the potential for significant unrest if such a revered position were to be threatened. As the situation develops, all eyes will be on Governor Aliyu’s next moves and the possible repercussions on both a local and national level.
