The Kebbi State Chapter of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on stakeholders to keep politics out of the case between the Kebbi State Government and Al-Mustapha Jokolo. On Monday, October 28, 2024, the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division, reaffirmed its earlier judgment on the illegal dethronement of the 19th Emir of Gwandu, Al-Mustapha Jokolo.
Jokolo was dethroned as Emir of Gwandu by the Kebbi State Government under the leadership of the then Governor Muhammadu Adamu Aliero in June 2005. In the Appeal Court judgement delivered on Monday, Justice Tobi expressed satisfaction with the earlier judgment passed by Justice Abbas Ahman of the Kebbi State High Court, stating that the deposition of the 19th Emir was contrary to the law and did not follow due process.
Meanwhile, the lead counsel for the defendants has indicated that the state government intends to appeal the case.
The case at hand highlights the importance of traditional institutions that have a direct link with community members and reiterates the need for their inclusion regarding their role in social cohesion and prosperity. From time immemorial, they have long served as conflict-resolution platforms within communities. Such respects and roles should not be eroded by political caprices and manipulative tendencies.
The state Chairman of MURIC, Dr. Abdullahi Bello Umar in a statement Thursday observed with keen interest over time how the law courts have been adjudicating this case for years and despite the instincts, neither the plaintiff nor the defendant has thrown caution to the winds. They have maintained decorum.
“Neither of them has taken the case to the court of public opinion. This has helped the state and country at large by preserving the unity, security and cooperation of the people and has insulated the royal family from abuse by naysayers.
“MURIC hereby calls on all the stakeholders involved (Kebbi State Government, Emir of Gwandu, the deposed Emir of Gwandu, families and friends) to desist from actions and utterances that may jeopardise the cohesion of the Abdullahi Bin Fodio family and the relative peace Kebbi state is known for.
“Both the dethroned Emir and the current Emir are brothers sharing the same blood and lineage. Thus, family disputes should not be created. It is needless and unwelcome. This call becomes imperative because of the recent happenings on a revered Emirship stool in one of the revered Northern states which is unbecoming of the royal family linked to the revered Sheikh Usman Bin Fodio.
“All traditional institutions in Northern Nigeria (erstwhile Sokoto Caliphate) are legacies of the revered reformer. All over the world, traditional institutions are respected and Nigeria cannot be an exception. In Northern Nigeria, they represent not just royal families, but Islamic monuments.
“Such institutions and legacies should remain sacred and should not be toyed with by anyone under any guise. The desecration of those institutions will not be condoned by the Muslim Ummah. In Nigeria today, political abuse of traditional institutions is a significant issue, with some politicians frequently co-opting these institutions to advance their agendas, manipulate public opinion, and reinforce their power.
“Traditional institutions, once respected for their cultural authority and community cohesion, are often undermined by political interventions, leaving them vulnerable to losing their independence and influence. We should remember that the erosion of traditional institutions in Nigeria due to political interference threatens cultural preservation, social harmony, and community welfare.
“Muslims and Nigeria at large, are currently facing a lot of challenges in various dimensions, we should allow the courts to decide the fate of all cases and not allow our whims and caprices to create more dark days for the Ummah in particular and the country at large,” the statement reads.
