By Kasim Isa Muhammad
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has sounded an alarm over an alleged plan by Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, to depose the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.
MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof. Isiaq Akintola, warned that Nigerian Muslims will not tolerate any attempt to remove the Sultan, who is not only a traditional ruler but also a religious leader and the spiritual head of all Nigerian Muslims.
Akintola stated that Governor Aliyu’s previous removal of 15 traditional rulers has already caused tension and controversy, and any attempt to depose the Sultan would be seen as a direct attack on Nigerian Muslims.
He advised the governor to reconsider his actions and respect the Sultan’s position, which is not only traditional but also religious and national in scope.
MURIC warned that any attempt to depose the Sultan would force Nigerian Muslims to take drastic measures, including potentially limiting leadership positions to Islamic scholars only.
The organization called on the Sokoto State House of Assembly to review the state’s chieftaincy laws to grant immunity to the office of the Sultan, and urged Northern elites and Islamic scholars to intervene to prevent a crisis.
TCR reported that the Sokoto State Government has yet to respond to MURIC’s allegations, but has previously stated that it plans to amend the local government and chieftaincy law to align with prevailing practices in the state.
Meanwhile, MURIC has warned that any attempt to undermine the authority of the Sultanate Council would be seen as a direct attack on Nigerian Muslims.
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