Sokoto Gov’t debunks plot to depose Sultan

The Sokoto government has refuted MURIC’s claim that it is trying to remove His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.

Hon. Sambo Bello Danchadi, the state Commissioner for Information and Societal Reorientation, responded quickly on Tuesday, saying the state government had no plans to dethrone the beloved monarch, and labelling MURIC’s allegation as untrue and unjustified.

Sambo explained that the law guiding the appointment and disposition of traditional rulers in the state had not been changed or even repelled.

The Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Council MURIC, Prof. Isiaq Akintola, on Monday, raised alarm that, Sokoto state government was plotting to depose His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto against the backdrop of the happenings in Kano.

MURIC in a statement cited the removal of 15 traditional rulers for various offences.

Prof Akintola, in a statement further warned that, Muslims Ummah in Nigeria would reject and resist any hostile actions against the Sultan, who happened to be the spiritual leader of all Muslins in Nigeria.

The Islamic organization however expressed concern over the alleged sour relationship between the state government and the Sultan.

The organisation said the pedestal of the Sultan of Sokoto was not only traditional but also religious, noting that the Sultan doubles as the head of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.

The group warned the Sokoto governor not to “force Nigerian Muslims to take a drastically revolutionary measure.”

It said, “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.

It said, “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.