Any Sultan of Sokoto, who is conscious of his antecedents and the obligation that burden confers on him, would oppose the establishment of a government like the one currently in Sokoto state. I say this without prejudice to any convention or law existing in Nigeria that says the Sultan, as a traditional leader, should not interfere in politics and so, let no one dare quote those to me.
The Sokoto’s Caliphate, which the Sultan heads in contemporary times, was founded on education, enlightenment and piety. It was established to institute and sustain virtues by nurturing a noble society in which moral and ethical principles are upheld. Critically x-rayed, very few within or outside Sokoto state would boldly say that these are standards that the current political leadership in the state embody or, symbolise.
From 2007 to 2015, when the crop of leaders that now rule Sokoto held sway, the state was experiencing a dark age in all respects in its history of over 200 years. Moral decadence did not only fester and thrive unchecked, but it was, practically, institutionalised to create a conundrum of decay that was sustained and patronised by the powers that be.
The age long peaceful, tranquil and serene citadel of the Caliphate witnessed a surge of immortality, drug abuse and different forms of crime that were, hitherto, alien to the society. Sadly, but not surprisingly, the headquarters of this sleaze was the neighbourhood of the-then governor of the state, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko. It was a red light district of a free-dealing narcotic market, youths that were loose in character and a command center-cum fortress of armed gangs, who terrorised the entire state.
Any security agent, who served in Sokoto at the time, would testify to the fact that the greatest challenge to law enforcement at the time was not burglary or other minor offences but hoodlum unleashing violence and moral crimes, the victims of which were dominantly women and children. The situation was compounded because offenders were shielded from arrest and prosecution by their patrons within the state’s power structure.
From 2015 through to 2023, Sokoto state experienced a respite, a big relief from the ugly state of affairs, with the advent of a new government that from inception onwards, exhibited zero tolerance for violence, delinquency and moral degeneracy. That was the trend with the exception of the brief periods of elections in 2019 and 2023, when the previous political block seemingly introduced brigandage as a strategy for winning the polls.
This was the Sokoto that the Sultan, in the name of a traditional leader, was expected to look the other way, and allow the same elements to re-enact in adherence to conventional opinion or obedience to some law. And on the allegation that he had failed to do exactly that, refusing to look the other way, the very same forces have been chanting at all their political rallies since 2019, a war song: “A new government, a new Sultan”.
Their seeming contempt for the person of Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III
and utter disregard to the revered institution of the Sultanate got to a height that their agents made it a habit of shouting unprintable invectives against the Sultan whenever their campaign train passed by the palace. There were three incidents on such occasions reported by several mass media platforms, when hoodlums of their party threw stones and other missiles at the Sultan’s palace.
My hope and prayer has always been that Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III is “guilty” of the “crime” of interference in the politics of Sokoto state, if his motive was to stop the agents of decadence from gaining political ascendency in the state. In that case, all true and, proud descendants of the great empire would revere and uphold him, as we do Sheikh Usmanu Danfodiyo and all the other architects of our uniquely phenomenal history.
In other words, we should all be pained that the current state of affairs is such a far cry from what Sokoto deserves, as a society that was built and guided by the subliminal philosophy of education and enlightenment. Sadly, Sokoto state, in this respect today, is being controlled and grossly misrepresented by a bloc that appears to epitomise and glorifies mediocrity, incompetence and cluelessness.
The situation is, in fact, so bad that today, those at the helm of affairs in the state, evade or outrightly flee from national and international development forums due to lack of confidence. It is a sad situation that has the consequence of setting the state several decades back and wiping what was once a subcontinental civilisation off the global development map.
Sokoto state seems to have forgotten the meaning of the rule of law, since May 29, 2023, with the inauguration of the current government, whose every action has defied and negated due process, constitutional and statutory alike. Appointments and removals in the public service are inspired by the whims of no more than three political overlords, who also solely control and execute state projects to the exclusion of relevant government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.
Thus, for all right thinking citizens of Sokoto state as well all that cherish the legacies of Sheikh Usmanu Danfodiyo, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III should be extolled and celebrated as a noble, worthy leader, if, indeed he had fought against the flow of the tide with all its ominous and dangerous signs.
If, on the other hand, the Sultan had remained aloof to the potentiality of the situation that Sokoto has found itself, that, I feel, would be the worst disservice to his status and historical antecedents because standing on the side of righteousness is an obligation to his people and our revered heritage, whether he is on or off the throne.
Ja’afar Aliyu Gada,
Ahmadu Bello University.
Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna state
