MURIC Calls on Sokoto Assembly to Not Limit Sultan’s Powers
MURIC Calls on Sokoto Assembly to Not Limit Sultan’s Powers
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a prominent Islamic advocacy group in Nigeria, has called on the Sokoto State House of Assembly to halt the consideration of a bill that seeks to reduce the powers of the Sultan of Sokoto.
The proposed legislation, which has sparked controversy in the state, aims to limit the traditional ruler’s influence over the appointment of district and village heads.
In a statement released on June 23, 2024, MURIC’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, described the bill as “an attempt to whittle down the powers of the Sultan” and a “direct assault on the traditional institution in Sokoto.”
The group argued that the Sultan, who is the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s Muslim community, plays a crucial role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
“The Sultan of Sokoto is the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims. He is the symbol of unity and the rallying point for the Muslim ummah (community) in the country. Any attempt to reduce his powers is an indirect attack on the Muslim community,” Akintola said.
The proposed bill, which was introduced by the Sokoto State Government, has been met with strong opposition from traditional rulers and religious leaders in the state.
The Sultan himself, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has not publicly commented on the issue, but his supporters have vowed to resist any attempt to diminish his authority.
MURIC’s intervention comes amid growing concerns about the potential impact of the bill on the delicate balance of power in Sokoto, a state with a predominantly Muslim population.
The group has called on the state legislature to shelve the bill and engage in broader consultations with stakeholders before considering any changes to the traditional leadership structure.
“We call on the Sokoto State House of Assembly to halt the consideration of this bill and engage in wider consultations with the traditional institution, religious leaders, and the general public before taking any further action,” Akintola said.
The debate over the bill has highlighted the ongoing tensions between the state government and traditional authorities in Sokoto, as well as the broader challenges of balancing modernization and the preservation of cultural and religious identities in Nigeria’s diverse society.
Based on the search results, the key points regarding the historical powers of the Sultan of Sokoto are:
The Sultan’s Traditional Powers
The Sultan of Sokoto is the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s Muslim community and a symbol of unity for the Muslim “ummah” (community) in the country.
The Sultan traditionally has significant influence over the appointment of district and village heads in Sokoto state.
The Sultan’s traditional powers and authority are seen as crucial for maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Proposed Legislation to Limit Sultan’s Powers
The Sokoto State Government has introduced a bill in the state assembly that seeks to limit the Sultan’s powers, particularly over the appointment of local traditional rulers.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a prominent Islamic advocacy group, has strongly opposed this bill, describing it as a “direct attack on the traditional institution in Sokoto” and an attempt to “weaken the powers of the Sultan and make him irrelevant.”
MURIC has accused the state governor of trying to “dismantle the Sultanate Council and set up his own personal Sultanate Council” that would be controlled from the government house.
Calls to Protect the Sultan’s Authority
MURIC has called on the Sokoto State House of Assembly to halt the progress of the bill and engage in wider consultations before making any changes to the traditional leadership structure.
The group has also urged lawmakers to amend the section of the state’s chieftaincy law that empowers the governor to remove the Sultan, in order to exempt the Sultan from dethronement.
Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has also stated that the Sultan represents an idea that must be “jealously guarded and projected for the growth of the nation.”
In summary, the Sultan of Sokoto has historically wielded significant spiritual and traditional authority in northern Nigeria, particularly over the appointment of local traditional rulers. The proposed legislation in Sokoto state to limit these powers has faced strong opposition from Islamic groups who view it as an attack on the traditional institution.
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