The Sokoto Sultanate Council, on Tuesday, expressed its support for the move by the state House of Assembly to pass a new Emirate Council Bill.
The Sultanate, at a public hearing on the bill on Tuesday, said it had no issue with it.
Dr Muhammad Kilgori, who represented the Sultanate at the public hearing, said, “We at the Sultanate Council are ready to work and support the state government as well as operate with the law made by the state.
“Even before now, the council always consulted with the state government before making any appointment whatsoever.”
Kilgori’s position allayed concerns that the bill was aimed at whittling the power of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.
The Muslim Rights Council had last week warned the Sokoto State government against any attempt to dethrone the Sultan.
The warning was also echoed by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who said, “The Sultan is the Sultan of Sokoto, but he is much more than that; he represents an idea, he is an institution that all of us in this country need to jealousy guard, protect, promote, preserve and project for the growth of our nation.”
The concerns against the backdrop of the emirate crisis in Kano State.
The Sokoto State government, however, said it had no plan to dethrone Sultan, warning against the spread of false news.
At the public hearing of the bill on Tuesday, the state Commissioner of Justice, Nasir Muhammad Binji, explained that the former law, which was presented to the Assembly for an amendment was inconsistent with Nigeria’s Constitution.
Binji further clarified that in the amended law, the Sultanate Council will retained the power to recommend the village and district heads for appointment subject to the governor’s approval.
Binji insisted that the proposed amended law was not political or a means to strip the Sultanate Council of its power.
Other sections of the law to be amended, according to Binji, are sections to extend the tenure of elected local government chairmen from two years to three years.
He added that Section 76(h) of the law repealed a portion of the old law that said the governor has ‘absolute’ power to appoint the caretaker committee chairmen for local governments.
This, he said, was inconsistent with Section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution.
He said, “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 gives the Sultanate Council the power to appoint district 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. Because the power to appoint is the executive power and who exercises the power? Is it not the governor? This is the reason for the amendment. To correct the mistake of the past,”
He further explained that the word “absolute” would be removed from the clause as the word is ambiguous.
In his contribution, the Commissioner for Local Government and Religious Affairs, Ibrahim Adare, said the amendment of the law was a good step in the right direction.
“In the law being amended, the village and district heads will get their allowance as and when due, and the ministry is in support of the amendment,” he said.
