By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Sokoto State Government has remained adamant on its determination to whittle down the powers of the Sultanate institution.
At a public hearing on the proposed review of the state’s Local Government and Chieftaincy Laws of 2008 on Tuesday July 2,the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Nasiru Binji insisted that the current law which empowers the Sultan to make appointments into certain traditional offices are not in consonance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria as amended.
The Source reports that the Sokoto State Government and Districts Heads appointed by Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar are currently locked in a legal tussle over the validity of the appointments.
The District Heads had on June 13 2024, secured a court order restraining the State Government from deposing them.
However, the Sokoto State authorities last Friday maintained that the District Heads remain deposed.
Binji, the Commissioner for Justice, while addressing the press in Sokoto, noted that the restraining order has elapsed .
“The restraining order was for 7 days . And it elapsed on June 20 .” Binji noted .
The move to depose the Sultan-appointed District Heads had also sparked rumours that the State Government is planning to depose the Sultan himself and/or best cut down on his powers.
For one, at the core of the proposed amendment to the Chieftaincy law is the provision that makes it unlawful for the Sultan to make appointments in to traditional offices without the express consent/approval of the state Governor.
The State Commissioner said, there is no law that empowers the Sultan to appoint.
” Section 5 (2) of the constitution stipulates that the executive power to appoint in the state is vested on the Governor directly or through his Deputy, Commissioners or any Government agent assigned by the Governor.
“So there is no power given to the Sultanate Council to appoint . Section 76 ( 2) of the Sokoto Local Government and Chieftaincy Law give the Sultanate Council the power to appoint District Heads and Village Heads in the state, but with the approval of the sitting Governor.
“So the section is inconsistent with the 1999 constitution as amended and therefore it cannot stand .
“This is because, the power to appoint is the executive power and who exercise the power,is it not the Governor ? This is the reason for the amendment. To correct the mistake of the past ” Binji stated.
The State House of Assembly is currently tinkering with the contentious 2008 Chieftaincy.
If sailed through, the powers of the Sultan not only on appointments of traditional office holders,but in other areas will be hugely reduced, a prospect that has raised concern among many sympathizers of the Sultanate Institution, including Muslim groups.
