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No traditional institution has powers to appoint, depose traditional rulers – Sokoto govt
He claimed that the federal republic’s constitution grants the executive branch the direct or indirect authority to name or remove any traditional leader, including the head of a district or village.
According to Hon. Nasiru Mohammed Binji, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Sokoto State, no traditional institution is constitutionally authorized to designate or remove any traditional ruler.
Binji made the comments on Tuesday at a public hearing in the state House of Assembly’s Mini Chamber on a plan to amend the 2009 Sokoto state local government law.
He claimed that the federal republic’s constitution grants the executive branch the direct or indirect authority to name or remove any traditional leader, including the head of a district or village.
” 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.
