Group warns Northern leaders against politicising traditional, religious institutions
Following the alleged reports that the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu was planning to dethrone the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, a group under the aegis of the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria, has cautioned Northern political leaders against the politicisation of traditional and religious institutions in the region.
Specifically, the group urged Governor Aliyu not to attempt what his Kano State counterpart, Abba Yusuf did by removing Aminu Ado-Bayero as the Emir of Kano and replacing him with the deposed 14th Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.
This was even as the MMWG warned traditional and religious leaders in the country to desist from involving themselves in “political partisanship and parochialism.”
The group, in a strongly worded press statement released on Tuesday and made available to our correspondent, said: “it is very disheartening that our royal, traditional and religious institutions are being desecrated by politicians who remove highly revered and respected traditional rulers, especially in Northern Nigeria like political office-holders.”
This, the MMWG, in the statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said “must stop as it is unacceptable and nauseating.”
It maintained that Muslim royal institutions in Northern Nigeria from time immemorial were greater in the sight of man and God than that of politicians.
According to the group, “the towering position of the Sultan of Sokoto and leader of all Nigerian Muslims is far greater than that of any traditional ruler or that of any religious leader in Nigeria.”
It, therefore, admonished political leaders all over the country to learn a serious lesson from the unwarranted removal of the Emir of Kano by the Kano State Government, which it said has turned out to be problematic for the state government following the court ruling over the unfortunate action.
The group said it is sacrilegious to note that deposition of Emirs and appointment of new ones based on political consideration is a negation of Islamic principles of “Allah is the overall Possessor of absolute power who gives it to whoever He wishes”, urging all political leaders in both the North and South of Nigeria to stop politicisation of royal stools so as not to relegate the most dignifying positions to nothingness.
It, however, appealed to all Muslims all over the country not to entertain any fear about the magnificent position of the Sultan of Sokoto & President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, presently held by Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
MMWG described the present Sultan as the best ever enthroned because of his leadership qualities, generosity, commitment and great foresight for Islamic development in Africa in particular the world at large.
It implored the former governor of Sokoto State and current political leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Sokoto State, Senator Magatakada Wammako not to tow the route of former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso who is now in dilemma of what to do over the “fire he ignited in Kano that refused to burn due to Allah’s abundant mercy.”