The Sokoto State House of Assembly clarified on Tuesday that there is no bill before them seeking to dethrone the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III. This clarification came amidst rumors suggesting otherwise.
*Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.* [NAN]
The House Majority Leader, Alhaji Bello Idris (APC — Gwadabawa North), emphasized that the bill currently being considered aims to strengthen the activities of the Sultanate Council of Sokoto, not to dethrone the Sultan.
Addressing journalists after the assembly’s plenary session, Idris stated, “A bill to dethrone the Sultan for what crime? This could not and will never happen. We at the State Assembly have not received any law attempting to remove the Sultan but instead to strengthen his powers, guard, protect, and promote the institution.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the assembly, resuming from a one-month recess, deliberated on three executive bills:
1. A bill to further amend the Sokoto State Local Government Law, 2008, to provide for the tenure of the Local Government Council and related matters.
2. A bill to repeal the Sokoto State Prohibition of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Law №1 of 2021.
3. A bill to establish the State Tenancy Control and Safety of Persons Agency.
Idris reiterated that the current administration highly values and respects the Sultan and the Sultanate Council and is committed to protecting the dignity of this revered institution. He urged the public to disregard any reports suggesting an attempt to dethrone the Sultan, describing such information as mischievous.
The three bills have passed the second reading at the plenary and have been referred to the House Committees on Local Government, Social Welfare and Human Rights, and Donor Agencies, respectively.
