DETHRONEMENT: Why tampering with Sultan by Sokoto govt must never happen again – Oke Ogun Chief Imam

By KEMI KASUMU

The Grand Imam of Sepeteri Land in Oke Ogun, Oyo State, Al Imam Engr. Abdulhakeem Demola Raji, has warned of imminent disaster that will befall Sokoto State should the Governor of Sokoto State, Mr. Ahmad Aliyu, make good his plans to whittle down the powers of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and subsequently depose him.

Although the state government had denied having such plans it describ bthe alarm by Muslim Rights Council (MURIC) as a reaction based on rumours, its executive bill recently transmitted to the Sokoto State House of Assembly – seeking to amend the state traditional institution law in effort to achieve the plans – has now passed first and second readings only awaiting public hearing in days ahead.

Engr. Raji described attempt by the Governor to tamper with the dignity and whittle the powers of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar as one selfish way by which some Sokoto State indigenes, under the disguise of playing politics, want to destroy their own traditional and religious values.

Referring to the outcry by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) over the matter, he urged that it should “be seen as a warning of imminent loss of the privilege for the hosting of the leadership of Nigerian Muslims, if Sokoto State Government ever dares again to tamper with the Sultanate or personality of the occupant of the Throne as doing so affects Islam and unity of the Muslim Ummah of Nigeria.”

“I am not unaware of the debunk of the rumoured plot to dethrone the Leader of Muslims of Nigeria, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar as the Sultan of Sokoto, by the Sokoto State Government, which has generated the outcries of famous Islamic rights advocate group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), and condemnations by even non-Muslims including Abanikanda Olumoro from the Diasporan United Kingdom, who pointed directly to where the problem was coming from.

“Particularly, MURIC’s outcry is relevant for three reasons: It wouldn’t be the first time a Sultan would be dethroned. Secondly, a wave of dethronements in Kano Emirate, which was started by administration of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who, for political reasons, distorted and bulkanised the over 1000-year-old Emirate of Kano into pieces of five smaller Emirates until the current administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf came to correct it. MURIC thinks this may instigate a band wagon effect in the Seat of the Caliphate. Third reason and lastly, Sokoto Caliphate is as relevant to Nigerian Muslims just as it is to the Northern Muslims.

“That the Sokoto Caliphate leads the Nigerian Muslims is a privilege that shouldn’t be taken for granted just as headship of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs is conferred on whoever occupies the Seat of the Caliphate for unity of Nigerian Muslims and consistency of leadership.

“MURIC’s outcry is relevant to the extent that it wouldn’t be allowed again that anything line dethronement should befall  that exalted Throne of Sultanate in the Seat of the Caliphate because of how whatever happens there automatically affects the Islamic leadership of Nigeria.

“The Sultanate should be exempted, therefore, from any political interference because it rules not only the traditional institution but also directs Islamic affairs of the entire nation of Nigeria.

“MURIC’s outcry is a call to redefine the power of Sokoto State Government if the Caliphate would continue to be the custodian of Islamic leadership in Nigeria.

“It is a sensitization regarding the multiple roles of the Sultanate and its unique status among the Emirates. It is a sensitization that the seat of Presidency of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs domiciled in the Sultanate is out of necessity and is not subjected to any alteration by the Government at any level.

“I hereby urge that MURIC’S outcry be seen as a warning of the imminent loss of the privilege for the hosting of the leadership of Nigerian Muslims, if Sokoto State Government ever dares again to tamper with the Sultanate or personality of the occupant of Throne as doing so affects Islam and unity of the Muslim Ummah of Nigeria.

“Politicians in Sokoto and in the entire Northern Nigeria should wake up. If we, Southern Muslims, have look up to the North as doing well for Islamic development in Nigeria, they should be ashamed and fearful of the wrath of Allah, all of these politicians that had made efforts and are still planning to do so in distorting their own pre-Nigeria history that made them leaders in Nigeria.

“As for me, in my capacity as the Grand Imam of Sepeteri, a very strategic Muslim Community in Oyo State, I hereby call on Muslims of Yoruba Land and the entire Southern and all over Nigeria to set tomorrow Thursday June 27, 2024 aside to fast and pray for the victory of the Sultan and Islam against the enemies from within, who sit in the dark and throw stones into the light.”