Despite denials, Sokoto Assembly considers new bill against Sultan

•⁠ ⁠Atiku calls for constitutional reform to protect traditional rulers

After repeated denials by the Sokoto State government yesterday against moves to dethrone the Sultan of Sokoto, the Sokoto State House of Assembly yesterday passed for first and second reading a bill seeking to reduce the powers of the Sultan.

The bill, titled the Sokoto Emirate Council Amendment Bill, if passed into law, seeks to, among other things, strip the Sultan of powers to appoint the kingmakers and will also strip the Sultan of powers to appoint district heads without government approval, among other things.

This is as former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, expressed concerns over the growing trend of state governments interfering with the traditional stool enthronement process.

He made this call via a statement issued on his X handle, emphasising the importance of protecting traditional institutions from state government arbitrariness, ensuring their stability and recognising their role in maintaining peace, security, and economic development in their domains.

Atiku acknowledged that while the current Constitution does not recognise traditional institutions, they have played a significant role in governance before colonialism and continue to do so.

He advocated for constitutional reform to define the responsibilities of traditional institutions and offices, citing the need to address security challenges at the local level.

Atiku also urged state governors to respect traditional institutions, representing the cultural heritage of the people.

The Kano State governor had only recently facilitated a new law which enabled the state government to dethrone the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, and reinstate Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was himself removed from the throne by the previous administration. Also, rumours had made the round that the Sokoto State governor was also scheming to have the Sultan of Sokoto removed from his throne.

Atiku said: “Recent developments in the country have seen a growing tendency of state governments exerting influence in distorting the modalities of enthroning traditional stools.

“While it is understandable that the institutions of traditional rulership are in the exclusive purview of the state government, although through the local government authorities, it must be established that traditional institutions constitute a component of our governance structure. And thus, traditional institutions must be protected from the arbitrariness of state governments that threaten their stability.”

“When the structure of ascension of traditional rulers is unstable, it will become equally difficult to maintain peace and orderliness in communities.”