By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
The attention of the Sokoto State Government has been drawn to a malicious publication credited to the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) alleging a plan by the state government to dethrone the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
A statement issued to our Sokoto correspondent by the Press Secretary to the Governor, Abubakar Bawa, further said the state government wondered how a responsible body like MURIC, claiming to protect the rights of Muslims, would descend so low as to join hands with deluded mischief-makers and enemies of progress to fabricate such a false and unsubstantiated story just to create an unfriendly atmosphere and fear in the minds of the law-abiding and peaceful citizens of the state.
“We believe that MURIC is not the type that will dance to the tunes of enemies and mischief-makers who are trying to divert the attention of the good people of Sokoto State and Nigerians from the transformative initiatives taking place in Sokoto State over the last year.”
“We also like to assure MURIC that the present administration, just like previous administrations in the state, cherishes and respects the Sultanate Council long before MURIC was established.”
“The Sultanate Council, which has longstanding historical importance, is revered by all the people of Sokoto State. Therefore, we still hold the institution in very high regard and esteem.”
“This is not the first time stories such as this were fabricated to show that all is not well between the state government and the Sultanate Council. A few months ago, we had a similar obnoxious story which the state government categorically condemned and denied in its entirety.”
“From the look of things, those nefarious detractors and enemies of progress have not relented in their failed efforts to smear the cordial relationship existing between the state government and the Sultanate Council.”
“MURIC should have cared to find out if there was ever any query, warning, or threatening documents served on the Sultan by the state government.”
“We equally remind MURIC that promoting Islamic affairs is the second item on Ahmed Aliyu’s nine-point Smart Agenda. Therefore, Islam means so much to the present administration, especially considering that Sokoto, being the Seat of the Caliphate, is a 100 per cent Muslim-dominated society.”
“It is on record that no administration in the history of Sokoto State has done for Islam what the present administration has done in just one year. This we say without any fear of contradiction.”
“Therefore, for anyone to think that the present administration could engage in acts or actions that could jeopardize the development of Islam is not only unfair but unjustifiable.”
“To set the record straight, we would like to tell the world that the relationship between the Ahmed Aliyu-led administration and the Sultanate Council under the leadership of our most respected monarch, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has been very cordial.”
“The present administration always consults with His Eminence, the Sultan, on issues affecting the state, and his invaluable contributions and inputs are always respected and included in policy implementation.”
“Regarding the issue of sacking and transferring some District Heads in Sokoto State, MURIC should know that the affected District Heads were accused of unbecoming behaviors, such as land racketeering, aiding insecurity, and insubordination to constituted authority.”
“In order to give them a fair hearing, the committee summoned all the affected District Heads, after which it came up with a whitepaper report advising the government on what to do. It was based on this report and in the public interest that the state government acted in conformity with the recommendations made by the whitepaper committee.”
“It is equally important for MURIC to note that nobody is above the law. Therefore, the sacked District Heads are just reaping what they sowed, and the action taken by the Sokoto State Government was indisputably in the best public interest.”
