Sultanate lacks powers to appoint, depose traditional rulers – Sokoto govt

Sokoto state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Hon. Nasiru Mohammed Binji has said that no traditional institution has the constitutional power to appoint or Deposed any traditional ruler.

Binji made the remarks on Tuesday at a public hearing on a bill to amend the Sokoto state local Government law of 2009 held at the Mini Chamber of the state House of Assembly.

He said according to the constitution of the federal republic, the power to appoint or dethrone any traditional ruler be it District or Village head lies on the powers of the executive directly or indirectly.

” The only person who exercises the executive powers of a state is the executive Governor, ” the power to appoint or dethrone any District or Village head is the prerogative powers of the executive as spelt in section 5 sub-section 2 of the constitution.

” Section 17 subsection 1 of the Nigerian constitution provides advisory role only to traditional institutions, that’s to advise states and local Governments on cultural and chieftaincy matters in their respective states”

” Sokoto state Government is trying to set records straight based on the constitutional provisions and avoid aged long tradition whereby Sultan Appoints and dethrone traditional rulers in the state, as it’s becoming much inconsistent with the provisions of the Nigerian constitution,” Binji stated.

” If amended the new law will pave the way for effective monitoring and supervision of activities of District and village heads in the state ” says Binji.

In his submission, Dr Balarabe Shehu Kakale a former member of the National Assembly, acting on behalf of the Sokoto Indigenous Association urged members of the state legislative house to quash the bill, as it’s political and lacks the support of the majority of the state Indigenes.

He said his Association would not support any attempt to suppress the powers of the sultanate.

Hon Kakale however advised the legislative how to enact a separate law for the already established Sultanate council.