By Abubakar Shekara
Leadership in a democratic setting is complex. It takes a lot more than executive power to get things done. That is if things must be done properly.
Yet, for so many executives, it is just a matter of issuing the directive. How tasks are accomplished, deadlines are met and problems are resolved matters not. The boss orders it, so it is done: simple and short. But in a democratic system, checks and balances, due process and the rule law are still the standard measure.
The appropriateness of action is not merely in how promptly it is taken but more importantly, the extent to which it satisfies the rules or the letter of the law, even though in all circumstances, the timeliness of action on a particular matter is critical to its value.
In a democratic system therefore, the competence of leaders is measured by the extent to which their decisions fulfil the requirements of propriety and promptness at the same time. And here is where some stand out, amongst others.
An issue that presents the situation for such litmus test is the long standing leadership crisis of the Hisbah Commission in Sokoto state.
As at 2019, there existed three main groups claiming authority as the morality police in Sokoto. Each was exerting jurisdiction and power to apprehend immoral conduct in the state, in a competition that created confusion and unseemly scenarios that robbed their activities of honor, and moral justification.
Hisbah, whose task was to apprehend immorality, was losing the moral competence to do their duty, as they often were at the center of recurrent controversies. One of such contentious situations was their speculated seizure of musical instruments allegedly used at the wedding dinner of governor Tambuwal’s daughter.
To most members of the public, Hisbah were clearly exceeding their legal limits, their measures were becoming extreme. There were incidences when married couples were harassed or even arrested by the group and claims that marriages were being annulled at Hisbah offices.
Matters took a turn for the worse, when the group broke up due to internal disputes over leadership and factions were subverting the operations of one another. A faction was in fact, leading suspects to court to institute action against the other faction.
Clearly, action had to be taken to save the group from its self inflicted disorder and the public from the brunt. The next logical stage was for the concerned agency of government to step in. And the State Ministry of Justice declared the dissolution of all Hisbah bodies in the state.
To all intents and purposes and as far as the general public would be concerned, sacking the group was justified. Governor Tambuwal had the perfect, most convenient chance to eliminate an eyesore that caused many awkward situations, especially for associating one of such incidents to his own family. But superior reason took precedence over sentiment.
Governor Tambuwal almost immediately reversed the order of his justice department. Hisbah in crisis or not, is established by law and state governments cannot dissolve the commission at will. And, however unpleasant the consequence, the rule of law must be upheld.
Over time, the Hisbah dispute has only escalated, with further division leading to the existence of three factions at the moment. Controversy surrounding the organisation(s) has also worsened. Operatives of the group are embroiled in clashes with the Police, Civil Defence and the Army with greater frequency, a degeneration that is more rapidly eroding the credibility of Hisbah in the state.
Steps to remedy the sad situation and salvage this important agency is no longer an option but a necessity. Still, any action must be matched with caution, as emphasized by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal at a forum of a wide spectrum of stakeholders in the Hisbah issue.
“We must tread with caution on a matter that is already in court”, the Governor told the gathering, “even though there is need to mitigate this long standing crisis for the good of all.
“That’s why my government has not recognized any of these three factions as legitimate and I have never, all these years, met with any of these three leaders, individually or collectively.”
At the forum were the leaders of the three Hisbah factions, representative of the Sultanate Council, Muslim clerics, heads of security agencies and civil society. From the government side were the Ministries of Justice, Religious Affairs, Security and Local Government.
By the resolution of the consultative meeting, a Committee was been set up on the Hisbah dispute with the task of resolving all issues, towards the creation of a single commission for Sokoto state.
The Waziri of Sokoto chairs the body, which also consists of stakeholder agencies and groups represented at the earlier forum.
The Sokoto Hisbah dispute is so complex and only sincerity of purpose, inclusion and adherence to the rule of law can lead to its resolution. But Governor Tambuwal’s approach to the issue will certainly prove that even in the most intractable situations, prudence always saves the day.
