Allah gives dominion to whom He wills. Recent developments in the politics of Sokoto State have pointed to the fact that the urbane governor Ahmed Aliyu has played to the gallery of his political godfather whose script he is acting. It is apparent to all discerning minds that the governor’s main agenda is to strip the caliphate of its powers and render the sultan subservient to the whims and caprice of the governor’s office.
We have cause to believe that the Sokoto State House of Assembly is being tele-guided by the Executive on the bill before it that would strip the Sultan of his powers, which has already passed a second reading. The bill, among others, seeks to transfer the powers to appoint traditional rulers and kingmakers from the Emirate Council to the state government.
The overzealous governor should tread with caution in order not carry his luck too far by dribbling himself into political oblivion. This fight should not be personal. For the record, the Sultan is a symbol that represents the Muslim Ummah and any attempt at diminishing his influence is tantamount to an affront on the Caliphate.
He is not only the Sultan of Sokoto but the Ameerul Mumineen (Caliph) of the Islamic caliphate, which influence extends far beyond the territory of Sokoto State. It stretches as far as the Atlantic Ocean in the South and to the Fringes of the Sahara in the North, from the undulating plateaus of the Cameroon in the East to the Senegambia River in the West.
The caliphate represents an institution and the caliph is the head of all Muslims in Nigeria. All Islamic institutions in Nigeria recognize the supreme leadership of the Sultan. Not only that, his role as the spiritual head of Muslims also earned him the respect of the traditional institutions in Nigeria. He is the chairman Jama’atu Nasrul Islam, President-General Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Head of all Islamic aid groups and head of all Islamic institutions as well as mosques in Nigeria and to extent beyond.
Outside the spiritual influence, the Sultan is the chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers and also Co-Chairman inter-religious council. The seat of the caliphate must important Muslim position in Nigeria and should be respected by all Muslims as the supreme authority of the land
Prominent Nigerians have reacted to this unfortunate turn warning of the dire consequences that would follow any move to desecrate the sanctity of the Caliphate. Vice-President Kashim Shettima cautioned against the political encroachment on the exalted caliphate commenting in a remark at the North West Security Summit in Katsina to the Sokoto State government thus “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 jealously guard, protect, promote, preserve and project for the good of our nation.”
Kashim Shettima is not just an elder statesman as the spokesperson of Sokoto state averred. He is today, the most political figure in the north. As vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he holds the second highest office in the country and by implication is the northerner occupying the highest elective position in the land.
The swift response of Sokoto State government to the Vice-President’s remark is in itself an admission of guilt and further confirmed the guilt of the state government of undermining the caliphate.
It is ludicrous and balderdash asking the vice-president to check his facts before going public. It is already in the public domain that the state government was set to diminish the powers of the Islamic caliphate, which established Sokoto as its centre.
Kashim Shettima got his fact right and only gesticulated to the state government to watch its steps in order not to trip-over.
Moreover, in a press statement by the Muslims Rights Concern (MURIC), its executive Director, Prof Ishaq Akintola condemned the attempt to ridicule the Caliphate.
He said “Governor Ahmed Aliyu is exhibiting symptoms of fascism, totalitarianism and prebendalism…?” Former Vice-president Atiku Abubakar also raised the alarm in a statement he issued appealing to state governors to accord respect to traditional institutions.
The Caliphate is to Sokoto State what Vatican is to Rome and the catholic family. Without the shining influence of the caliphate, Sokoto State would have remained a backwater in the affairs of the nation. Any plot by the state governor to weaken the powers of the sultan would by implication be tantamount to reducing the powers and influence of the state in the nation’s affairs.
The government appears to be gripped by a vendetta laced with petty sentiments. A state gripped by violence and tottering under the burden of a stagnant economy with its indigenes fleeing in droves to other states as economic refugees should at least focus on developing its economy while improving the wellbeing of its people. It appears that the administration of Ahmed Aliyu is blind to reason. Since its inception over a year ago, its only agenda is the affairs of the Sultanate and we did not see how removing the powers of the sultan would help the state’s economy.
Our traditional institutions must be defended, preserved and protected from the hands of the politicians who have no respect for our beliefs and values.
Situations where a First Class chief or Emir must seek the permission of his local government chairman before traveling out of the state render their powers impotent and ridicule their exalted positions as custodians of our rich cultural heritage; traditional and spiritual values. Recent cases may suffice to support my argument.
The Federal Government and indeed the vice-president Kashim Shettima should rise up to the challenge to insulate these institutions from political interferences. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should recognize their import and substance by clearly spelling out their roles and responsibilities. This will go a long way in helping to avoid confrontations with states and local governments.
We should borrow a cue from the British government, which as a former colonial master, still preserves the English Crown. The King or Queen is the Head of Government albeit the existence of parliamentary democracy. The British subjects have great respect for their kings and queens and thus the idea of a Constitutional Monarchy was entrenched. The queen or king are not only free from political interference, the power of the monarchy is supreme.
This fight is not against our traditional institution but of Islam. The governor undermines the spiritual authority of the Islamic caliphate and Allah SWT will protect his religion against any attempt to weaken its institutions, beliefs and values.
Finally, the Muslim Umma is watching the steps of the state governor and we warn against any attempt to diminish the powers of the Caliphate as any move to that effect will be resisted by the Ummah.
- Ustaz Nuradeen Khamis Is the Amir of Muslim Information Council (MIC)
