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By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
The Sokoto Sultanate Council yesterday broke it silence on the alleged controversy surrounding purported dethronement of the Sultan for having issues with the governor.
” Let me say clearly that there is no issue whatsoever between the Sultanate and the governor and state government.
However, it said it remains determined and committed to it responsibilities and functions and is duty bound to abide by any laws insisting that, the public should disregard all figments of insinuations and rumour being circulated on the conventional and social media windows.
” The sultanate know nothing about that and has no hand in such unfounded information”
It however added that it has no vested interest in who became a District Head of Village Head rather ready to work to ensure harmony for good governance in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the Sultanate Council on Tuesday in Sokoto before the House Committee on the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on the proposed amendment bill to the State assembly, the District Head of Kilgori , Dr Muhammadu Jabbi Kilgori said the Sultanate has always matained peace and never had sour relationship with the governor nor the government.
According to Kilgori, the Sultanate Council will continue to be a democratic institution guided by the principles and process that reflects the wishes and aspirations of the people with defined structure of Kingmakers for the enthronement of religious peace and harmony for the development of Sokoto state and the Nigerian Muslims.
He explained that the revered institution had in the past, operated with different governments and administration under different laws before 2007.
” We are aware that appointments of District Heads and Village Heads were done by government not until 2007 when then Governor Aliyu Wamakko amended the law and gave the Sultan the power to do same which lasted for over 16 years.
” Therefore, we are willing to act in accordance with the wishes of the government and abide by the law by doing the right thing”, he said .
While explaining on the proposed Bill, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Nasiru Binji said it was aimed at ensuring the bill was comprehensively amended to take care of the 2014, 2016 and 2018 amended laws.
Binji explained that it was also to define the constitutional clarity as to the sources of power of appointment in a democratic setting while making reference to sect 76(2) which gave only the executive to make appointment.
” Only a executive institution non executive can make appointments which the sultanate has no power but can only recommend to the governor for final approval on position of District or Village head for appointment”, Binji said as he he cited sect 76(3) of the Constitution.
According to the Commissioner ” By this provision , it is unconstitutional with the Sultanate”, he declared.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ibrahim Dadi Adare said the proposed amendment bill will further consolidate the LG law which has suffered in changes in series of time.
He noted that laws were man made and subject to amendment in relation to circumstance.
” In essence is to impact the lives of the people positively and encourage positive supervision”, he maintained while calling on the state assembly to support it.
