The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has warned the Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu, against tampering with the Sultan of Sokoto, stating that if he does, he will have the organisation to contend with, News About Nigeria reports.
On Monday, the organisation gave this warning in a statement issued by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The organisation expressed concern over the sour relationship between the governor and Sultan of Sokoto and the rumour of impending dethronement of the Sultan.
According to the human rights organisation, Nigerian Muslims reject any thought of the deposition of the Sultan.
Akintola stated that rumours have been ongoing that the governor may dethrone the Sultan of Sokoto, using the same excuses he used to dethrone the 15 traditional rulers whom he removed earlier.
Recall that the governor had deposed 15 traditional rulers, in April.
Akintola, however, advised the Governor against such move, stating that the Sultan not only represents traditions, but also religion, adding that his jurisdiction goes beyond Sokoto, as he is the spiritual head of all Nigerian Muslims.
He maintained that any governor who tampers with the stool of the Sultan will have Nigerian Muslims to reckon with, and he urged Governor Ahmed Aliyu not to force Nigerian Muslims to take a drastically revolutionary measure.
“The governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu, deposed 15 traditional rulers on 23rd April 2024. That was two months ago.
“However, 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.
“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.
“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).
“Governor Ahmed Aliyu should not force Nigerian Muslims to take a drastically revolutionary measure. Having a traditional ruler as leader has been a condition that Nigerian Muslims accepted a long time ago as a necessary weakness in the structure that they have to live with.
“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.
“For the avoidance of any doubts, Sultan Muhammad Sa’d 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,” he stated.
