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Claim: An X User, Imran Muhammad, claimed that the Sokoto State House of Assembly had completed the first and second readings of the Sokoto Emirate Council Amendment Bill, which seeks to strip the sultan of the power to appoint kingmakers and district heads without government approval.
Verdict: True. The Sokoto State House of Assembly has completed the first and second readings of the Amendment Bill before it concerning the Sultanate Council. If passed into law, the amendment will strip the Sultan of the power to appoint the kingmakers and district heads without government approval.
Full Text
The Sokoto State Emirate Council Amendment Bill is a significant topic, reflecting broader trends in northern Nigeria concerning traditional emirate structures. Similar legislative actions in northern states aim to reform or reaffirm traditional governance. For instance, Kano State’s legislature recently passed a bill to dissolve the four new emirates created in 2019 and revert to a single emirate structure. These emirates were created in 2019 by then-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, reducing the powers of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II. This move was widely perceived as politically motivated due to Sanusi’s criticisms of the government. This led to Sanusi’s dethronement in March 2020. However, the current administration under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf repealed this amendment, restoring the single emirate structure and Sanusi’s traditional authority.
In a similar vein, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), among other notable Nigerians, has raised alarms about the Sokoto Emirate Council Amendment Bill, suggesting that it may be part of a broader strategy by Governor Ahmed Aliyu to undermine and possibly remove the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, from his position. MURIC argues that such a move could destabilize the region and erode the cultural and religious significance of the Sultanate.
On the other hand, Vice President Kashim Shettima has advised the Sokoto State government to guard the institution of the Sultan of Sokoto jealously, emphasizing its importance and the potential negative consequences of undermining it. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has also expressed concerns over state governments increasingly interfering with appointing monarchs. Atiku advocates for constitutional reforms to protect traditional institutions from arbitrary state actions, emphasizing their role in governance and community stability.
In response to the Vice President, Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State, through his Chief Press Secretary, has refuted claims that his administration plans to remove the Sultan, urging Vice President Shettima to verify facts before commenting. He emphasised that the bill was not intended to undermine Sultan’s position but to improve governance and maintain the state’s traditional structures.
On June 25, 2024, an X user, Imran Muhammad, claimed that “BREAKING: The Sokoto State Assembly has completed the first and second readings of the Sokoto Emirate Council Amendment Bill. The amendment bill, if passed into law, will strip the Sultan of powers to appoint the kingmakers and will also strip the Sultan of powers to appoint district heads without government approval, among other things.”
This post has generated significant interest, with more than 265,000 views, 433 reposts, 167 quotes, 1,352 likes, and 131 bookmarks.
Therefore, DUBAWA identified the need to fact-check this claim.
Verification
The Sokoto State House of Assembly completed the bill’s first and second readings before it. This was widely reported by reputable newspapers such as Punch, Tribune, and Vanguard. As regards the power of the Sultan if the amendment bill is passed into law, the primary source for this claim is an audio recording of Nasir Binji, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
In this recording, made during a briefing to journalists following the State Executive Council meeting on June 6, 2024, Binji detailed the proposed amendment. He explained that the amendment would transfer the authority to appoint kingmakers and district heads from the Sultan to the governor, while the Sultanate Council would retain the power to recommend candidates.
Additionally, a press release from the official Facebook page of the Press Secretary to the Sokoto State Government provides further confirmation. This release outlines the proposed changes, emphasizing that the amendment aims to align the legal framework with the state’s customary practices. It reiterates that the governor, not the Sultan, would have the final appointing authority.
Supporting information is also available from various newspaper reports that have covered the proposed amendment bill. These reports provide context and analysis, aligning with the statements from state officials. They confirm that the legislation seeks to adjust the appointing powers as outlined, ensuring consistency with the details provided by Nasir Binji and the official press release.
However, according to an audio recording and a press release, the bill before the Sokoto State House of Assembly is not named the “Sokoto Emirate Council Amendment Bill.” The bill is the “Local Government and Chieftaincy Law.” On June 6, 2024, Nasir Binji, the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, clarified that the Sokoto State Government proposed amending “Section 76 of the Local Government and Chieftaincy Law” to align with prevailing practices within the state. This information was provided in an audio clip of him addressing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting that day. Although some newspapers reported the bill as the “Sokoto Emirate Council Amendment Bill,” the actual name differs.
Therefore, while the bill’s name was incorrectly reported, the legislative progress described is accurate.
Conclusion
The claim regarding the Sokoto Emirate Council Amendment Bill is accurate. If passed, the proposed bill will strip the Sultan of Sokoto of certain traditional powers and require government approval for key appointments. The bill has passed the first and second readings in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, indicating significant legislative progress toward its potential enactment.
This fact-check is produced for the DUBAWA 2024 Kwame Karikari Fact-Checking Fellowship in partnership with Garkuwa FM to enrich the ethos of truth in journalism and enhance media literacy in Nigeria.
