Director of the The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on Governor Aliyu Wamakko and the State House of Assembly to pass a law giving the Sultan of Sokoto immunity against deposition.
Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, who made the call yesterday in Sokoto, said it was necessary in order to avoid a reoccurrence of what happened in 1996 when Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki was deposed based on the instruction of the then military Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
Speaking on Hijrah and its implications to the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria at the 1436 grand Hijrah celebration, Professor Akintola said the institution of the Sultanate is sacred and ought to be treated as such by whoever is at the helm of affairs in the state.
He explained that the Sultan being the supreme leader of the Muslim ummah in the country, should be given immunity against deposition.
“Nigerian Muslims felt insulted when Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki was removed because he was having an issue with the head of state. Are we still under colonial rule?” he said.
The MURIC director also suggested that the law empowering governors to remove emirs, particularly the Sultan, ought to be reviewed, and the sultan be given full powers to exercise his spiritual responsibilities.
Akintola commended Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III for effectively leading Muslims in the country.
“I appeal to Governor Wamakko and the law makers to give the sultan full powers to act as Amir of the entire Muslim population in the country”, he added.
Governor Wamakko, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Security, Alhaji Harande Mahe, called on people of the state to participate actively in the 2015 elections in order to elect credible leaders.
In his remarks, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar commended the organisers of the event, stressing the need for peace and unity in the country.
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