Muslim clerics oppose move to reduce powers of Sultan

The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) has condemned the alleged plot to depose the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar.
 
While cautioning the state government against such move, the faithful reiterated that the Sultan is not just a monarch, but the President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and national leader of all Muslims in the country.

The position was contained in a statement signed by MUSWEN president,  Rasaki Oladejo, and made available to The Guardian, yesterday, in Ibadan by Rahman Balogun.
 
Oladejo emphasised that beyond unifying Muslims in Nigeria, the Sultan also enjoys the friendship and honour of Christians, establishing unprecedented rapport with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
 
He said: “The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), the official umbrella body for all Muslims in the South West of Nigeria, has condemned  the alleged plot to depose as Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, the President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and national leader of all Muslims in Nigeria.”

ALSO, President General of the League of Imams and Alfas, South-West, Edo/Delta, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello, opposed any move to whittle the powers of the Sultan.

He said the Sultan has been so careful and avoid his involvement in politics as, according to the Yorubaland, Edo and Delta Imams and Alfas Leader, “Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar stays away from it because he does not want anything that bring untold embarrassment to him, his faith in the Almighty Allah as leader of Muslims in Nigeria and the Muslim Ummah he leads.”