The Coalition of Muslim Organisations in Nigeria (CMON), comprising 33 Muslim groups and associations across the country, has urged Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State to rather strengthen and reinforce the influence of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III and the Sultanate.
The Coordinator of the coalition and National President of the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a press conference.
There were fears and controversies over alleged moves by the Sokoto State government to depose Sultan Abubakar, who is also the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), following the sacking of 15 district heads by the state government.
The Sokoto State government, however, said speculations about an alleged plan to dethrone Sultan Abubakar, is the work of mischief makers.
The government’s spokesperson, Sambo Danchadi, in a statement on Tuesday, said an executive bill forwarded to the State House of Assembly has no provisions to dethrone the Sultan.
Despite the denial of the Sokoto State government that it was not planning to depose the Sultan, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has said that the state government was still targeting him for deposition.
Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director of MURIC had said that a bill called Sokoto Emirate Council Amendment Bill that had passed through the first and second readings and if signed into law, will strip the Sultan of Sokoto of certain powers.
The Muslim coalition at the Thursday briefing urged Governor Aliyu to not only strengthen and reinforce the power and influence of Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III and the Sultanate, but also build on the legacies of past administrations in empowering the Sultan by making him the true leader of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria.
“What we expect the Sokoto State government and Governor Ahmad Aliyu to do is to further strengthen and reinforce the power and influence of Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar and the Sultanate.
“Governor Ahmad Aliyu should build on the legacies of past administrations in empowering Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and make him a true Sarki of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria. He (Sultan) should be protected from the control of politics, power and government,” Balogun said.
The MMPN president said that the Sultan should be granted immunity from dethronement and his influence expanded and that by so doing, history will be lenient and kind with Governor Aliyu and his name will be written in gold.
“This eminent and illustrious son of Sokoto, who is a symbol of global peace and unity, is not only a pride to the Nigerian Muslim Ummah but has also been a pride to the global Muslim community. We appeal to Governor Ahmad Aliyu and his administration to preserve the revered seat of the Sultan and to avoid any political brigandage that will demean or reduce the influence and authority of the Sultan.
“The governor should prevent the the rumoured dethronement, which we believe will affect the peace in Sokoto and gravely affect the Muslim Ummah of this nation. This political jingoism is capable of bringing the Muslim Ummah of this nation into disrepute as well as returning to the dark old days of Northern and Southern Muslim dichotomy. It will not do the Muslims in this country any good, nor the good people of Sokoto State.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on Governor Ahmad Aliyu and his government to halt whatever plans they have as long as that will lead to diminishing the power and influence of the Sultan, or worse still, lead to his dethronement,” Balogun said.