Nigerian Muslim leaders, under the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), have pledged to defend the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, from any perceived disrespect by the Sokoto State Government.
This resolve was made clear during an important meeting held on July 2nd in Abuja by the General Purpose Committee (GPC) of the NSCIA.
The meeting, chaired by NSCIA Secretary-General Professor Ishaq Oloyede, reaffirmed the council’s unwavering support for Sultan Abubakar’s leadership and recognized his significant contributions to Islam and the Nigerian Muslim community.
Attendees of the meeting informed Premium Times that the committee committed to employing all legal and legitimate methods to protect the Sultan from any form of humiliation or disrespect, regardless of the source.
The committee’s firm stance is a reaction to recent legislative actions by the Sokoto State Government, which introduced a bill to the state’s House of Assembly aimed at changing the rules for appointing traditional rulers.
Critics argue that, if enacted, this bill would undermine the Sultan’s authority by necessitating government approval for appointing kingmakers and district heads, an act perceived as disrespectful to Sultan Abubakar.
This situation brings back memories of past disputes, notably the deposition of Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki in 1996 during Sani Abacha’s military regime.
Despite these concerns, the Sokoto State Government has dismissed them as baseless accusations from “mischief makers” and asserted that its relationship with the Sultanate Council remains cordial.
The NSCIA, through its General Purpose Committee, has strongly advised political and government leaders at all levels to maintain respect for traditional and religious institutions, especially those intertwined with Islamic leadership.
The committee emphasized that respecting these institutions is vital for preserving cultural and religious heritage, which is fundamental to ensuring sustainable peace and national development.
According to Premium Times, While Sultan Abubakar was not present at the meeting, Secretary General Oloyede confirmed that a formal communique detailing the committee’s resolutions would be released soon.
In the meantime, attendees of the meeting expressed their readiness to mobilize the Muslim faithful nationwide should the state government continue on what they perceive as a disrespectful path towards the country’s pre-eminent Muslim leader.
“The Sokoto State government should realise that the Sultan is not just a traditional ruler; he is a religious figure of national and international repute,” one attendee said, asking not to be named because he had no permission to discuss deliberations at the meeting with journalists. “We will not allow anyone to humiliate him in any way when he has done nothing wrong.”
Earlier, the Expanded General Purpose Committee (EGPC) of the NSCIA expressed its support for the Sultan and applauded his bridge-building efforts across regional and religious divides for national peace and cohesion.
The EGPC meeting, which was held on 30 June and attended by most of its members, was presided over by the Sultan and the two Deputy Presidents-General: the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar El-Kanemi, and Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo.
Prominent among the traditional rulers at the meeting were the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli; Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar; Emir of Kazaure, Najib Adamu; and Emir of Gummi, Justice Lawal Gummi.
Other members at the well-attended meeting included present and past senior members of both the bench and the bar, current and former ministers, heads of agencies, both private and public, captains of industries and respected scholars at the various strata of the educational system.
At the end of the meeting, the EGPC discussed the perceived disrespect of Sultan Abubakar by authorities in his home state of Sokoto.
But to avoid the Sultan being a judge in his own case, the matter was referred to the NSCIA’s GPC led by Secretary General Oloyede. That body then met on 2 July, resolving to resist any disrespect to the leadership of the Muslim Ummah by anyone or authority.
