Nigeria
allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Constitutional Role for Royal Fathers?
...The switch from parliamentary to presidential constitution swept away many institutions, but, certainly, not the traditional institution. Even after the abrogation of the first parliamentary constitution in January 1966, the royals have continued as custodians of culture and tradition of their communities.
...The parliamentary system of government in the First Republic made constitutional provisions for royal fathers in the political affairs of the country. Thus, the parliamentary system, which established Regional Houses of Chiefs, allowed traditional rulers to participate in politics. It was therefore not surprising that the Regional Houses of Chiefs had royal fathers like Sir Muhammadu Sanusi, Emir of Kano, Alhaji Usman Nagogo, Emir of Katsina, the Makama of Bida, and the Ooni of Ife, Sir Adesoji Aderemi.
Newswatch Magazine - The Sultan on a Peace Mission
[FONT="]In five years as the
20th Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has won great respect and honour for the throne of his forefathers as a crusader for peace and unity.
[/FONT][FONT="]Sokoto, capital of Sokoto State in the North West geo-political zone of Nigeria, was agog with celebrations that fateful afternoon of November 2, 2006, when the announcement came that Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III has been appointed new Sultan, the spiritual head of Muslims in Nigeria, in replacement for Muhammadu Maccido, his predecessor. His mien, humility and enviable background, not just as a member of the wider royal family but also as a gentle military officer who rose to the rank of a Brigadier General, contributed in making him acceptable to the people. Abubakar was clearly the choice of many. [/FONT]
[FONT="]He clocked five on the throne last week, November 2. Five years after he mounted the exalted throne as the 20th Sultan of Sokoto, the love for Abubakar has not diminished. Rather, he has grown both in influence and knowledge of spiritual and socio-political issues around him and has become Nigeria’s most powerful traditional ruler. [/FONT][FONT="]The Sultan’s palace in Sokoto, is like a Mecca of sort. People from various parts of the country, the rich, the poor and the average, including foreigners mill around the palatial building which has received varying degrees of decoration and architectural retouching.
[/FONT][FONT="]The Sultan’s current rating as Nigeria’s most powerful religious and traditional leader is attested to by the nature of positions he now holds, as well as duties and responsibilities assigned to him in the country. Within the five years past, the Sultan had carried on with his traditional duty as president general of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. He combines this with his appointment by the federal government as co-chairman of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC, and the National Council of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria. He is often consulted by government on many national issues. [/FONT][FONT="]On account of the positions of influence he occupies, Sultan Abubakar has been vocal on issues around him. Fearless and very outspoken, as he makes his positions clear on national and global issues, he has also come to be seen and widely regarded as an advocate of unity, peace, ethnic and inter-religious harmony in Nigeria.
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