By Suleiman Anyalewechi and Ayodele Oni
The last about the speculated plans by the Sokoto State Government to depose or whittle down the authority of the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, a retired Brigadier-General, may not have been heard despite denials by the State authorities.
On Saturday June 29,2024 Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, in Abuja, warned that nothing should be done to diminish the status and dignity of the Sultanate in the country.
This is even as the Sokoto State Government on Friday June 28, insisted that the embattled Sokoto District Heads, appointed by the Sultan remain deposed.
National President of MACBAN, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, in a statement, emphasized the need to protect and preserve the sanctity and respect of the Sultan as the leader of the Muslim Ummah in the Country.
He, therefore, called on political actors to desist from toying with the Sultanate institution which he noted has been in place for several hundreds of years.
The Leader of the Miyetti Cattle breeders condemned the alleged subtle moves by the Sokoto State Government to emasculate the Sultan.
“We believe that protecting and preserving the institution of the Sultanate is a cardinal responsibility of every right thinking person in the country.
“We call upon the Sokoto state Government, especially the Legislature ,to thread softly and do all that is necessary to preserve and protect the institution that represents an all- important ideology that created it.
“Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association MACBAN is worried by Media reports alleging that the Sokoto State Government intends to whittle down the powers of the Sultan.”MACBAN noted.
The group, however, expressed its solidarity with the Sultan ,as well as support for his leadership qualities.
“This is evident in his efforts to propagate religious and ethnic tolerance in Nigeria among diverse groups.
“His background as a military man, his resoluteness to speak the truth and his standing for the poor and underprivileged despite being an aristocrat makes him a model for leaders to emulate.”
Nasiru Binji , the Sokoto State Commissioner for Justice, while fielding questions from the Media, noted that the Court order that hitherto restrained the State Government from deposing the District Heads has elapsed.
“The duration of the order is 7 days . The order was given on the 13th of June, 2024, therefore, it elapsed on June 20” Binji insisted .
The Source reports that a Sokoto State High court had, on June 13 ,while ruling on an ex parte motion brought before it by some District Heads appointed by the Sultan, granted an interim injunction restraining the State Government from deposing them .
The State House of Assembly is currently perfecting a bill, that when operational, will strip the Sultan of the powers to appoint District Heads and other related Traditional Rulers without the consent of the State Government.
This piece of legislation was at the root of the alarm raised last week by the Muslim Rights Council alleging plans to dethrone the Sultan.
But despite repeatedly denying such a plan, fears still persist that the Sultanate institution may not be completely free from threat of disruption.
Vice President Kashim Shettima had, a couple of days ago, advised the Sokoto State Government to respect and, hold in reverence the Sultan of Sokoto because he is an institution. The State Government did not take kindly to that advice.
