Organisation rejects amendment to Sokoto LG Law

A Sokoto based non-governmental Organisation, Sakkwatawa Mu Koma Tushe, has rejected the proposed amendment of Sokoto State Local Government Law 2008, saying it is baseless and undemocratic.

In his submission at the public hearing in preparation for the amendment, Alhaji Kakale Shuni, Chairman of the organisation, said the amendment was politically motivated and would not add any value to development of the state or the sultanate.

Alhaji Kakale, a former commissioner of health in the state, urged the State House of Assembly to halt the amendment, as according to him, it was meant to reduce the powers of the Sultan from appointing district and village heads respectively.

“The Sultanate is an important Emirate not only to the people of Sokoto but to the entire Muslim Umman world over, hence should not be allowed to be bastardised under the guise of amendment.

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“I therefore, submit that the State House of Assembly should not entertain the bill. It rather gives more powers to the Sultan as custodian of culture and tradition to perform his duty diligently.

“Sincerely speaking, we expect the executive to give the Sultan more powers in order to man the affairs of the Sultanate effectively rather than reducing his power to mere recommendation,” he concluded.

Reacting to his submission, the State’s Attorney General, Barrister Muhammad Nasir Binji, condemned the submission, saying it lacks legal backing.

Binji said, “I am calling on the commission to discard the submission because because presenter has failed to support his submission with any provisions from the constitution. When I presented my submission, I supported my paper with provisions of several sections from the constitution, but Hon. Kakale failed to do so in his submission.”

However, many presenters at the public hearing were disappointed, as they were denied opportunity to make their presentation.

However, the Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Sa”idu Ibrahim, urged other presenters to submit their papers to the commission, saying “you have two days to submit your papers.”