Sultan lacks power to appoint anyone, Sokoto govt declares

• Sultanate Council denies feud between Sultan, governor

The last is yet to be heard of the power tussle between Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, and the Sultan, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, as the state government has declared that the monarch has no power to appoint anyone, constitutionally.
 
Meanwhile, the Sultanate Council has broken its silence on the proposed amendment of Sokoto State Local Government Law 2008.
 
According to the state government, the chieftaincy law in the state contravenes the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
 
Commissioner of Justice, Nasiru Binji, disclosed this, yesterday, at the public hearing on the Sokoto Local Government and Chieftaincy Law 2008.
 
Section 76(2) of the law, he noted, is inconsistent with Section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution.
 
Governor Aliyu had deposed 15 traditional rulers for various offences.
 
Binji 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.”

SPEAKING at the opening of the public hearing on the amendment of the law, the Sa’in Kilgori, Dr Muhammad Kilgori, said the amendment would not strip the Sultan of his powers or functions.
 
According to him, contrary to speculations, there is no issue between the Sultan and the governor.
 
Kilgori, who doubles as district head of Kilgori and council member of the Sultanate, said the Sultanate was aware of some enemies eager to create problems between the sultanate and the state government.
 
“There is no issue between the Sultan and Governor Aliyu at all. The Sultanate is ready to operate under any law elected through due process. We have operated under different laws in the past and we are ready to operate under the new law.
 
“The Sultanate, which has operated under the law proposed for amendment for 16 years, is ready to work with the government,” he said.
 
The proposed amendment of Sokoto State Local Government Law 2008 has raised dust from within and outside the state, following the insinuation that the amendment is targeting the Sultan.
 
If amended, the power of appointing district and village heads would be vested only in the governor, while the Sultan’s power would be reduced to recommendation of persons to be appointed for the positions.