The Sultan of Sokoto has been stripped of power the throne hitherto enjoyed to appoint district and village heads in the state.
The development followed the State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu’s signing of six new laws, including the amended Sokoto Local Government and Chieftaincy Law, which generated controversy across the country.
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Speaking during the ceremony held on Thursday, Aliyu said the new laws were made in good faith and not to disgrace any individual or group.
According to him, “We note with concern the unnecessary tension created by our proposal to amend some of these laws.
“Some of the reactions were politically motivated while others were done ignorantly without care to inquire from the right quarters on the details and intention of the amendment.
“It is a known fact that in every society, laws are enacted and amended to suit the needs of time and interest of the governed in line with circumstances at hand. Previous administrations had amended one law or the other in the state with a view to giving the state laws the needed touch that would fast track peace and development.
“Let me make it clear that the just amended laws are not meant to winch-hunt any individual or group but rather to promote good governance and to remove the ambiguity and inconsistency with the nation’s constitution.”
He advised Muslim clerics against allowing “lazy politicians” to use them in scoring their political goals.”
Recall that the proposal to institute the law generated controversy with some commentators claiming it was aimed at rubbishing the sitting Sultan, Abubakar Saad.
