. Sir AHMADU BELLO
Succession in Sokoto has never been a straight- forward business, though it may not be as contentious as when there was an Empire to fight for. When the time comes, the final decision would be that of Nine men led by the Waziri of Sokoto , Mohammed Junaid. As of now, apart from the more visible Ibrahim Dasuki, the Baraden of Sokoto and Shehu Malami , the Sarkin Sudan of Wurno , there are other dark horses that may also have a shot at the prized Job .
If Sokoto had been like the Kingdom of Benin, Muhammad Bilal Maccido, the Sarkin Kudu, would have been assured of the throne. Maccido, 60years old, is the eldest son of the reigning sultan is viewed as a strong candidate.
Throughouthis adult life, he has served in the Sokoto establishment and he is a master of its politics . Having been a faithful pupil of his father, he understands the mechanism of the catacomb of power and the unspoken nuances of the old men in the nine- member council of kingmakers. One of the things that stands in his favour is that he is attuned with western education having undergone some courses in Local Government Administration at Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria and abroad after his secondary school education. Like his father, too, he is learned in Islamic theology.
In Sokoto, primogeniture is not an attractive option. The 184 years old of Dan Fodio dynasty has never placed much emphasis on a Father handing over to Sons. At the beginning of the dynasty, Mohammed Bello took over from his father as the Sultan in 1817. The opportunity was lost to establish a system of primogeniture probably because Bello was unable to promote the authority and candidacy of any of his sons to succeed him. The rule now is that any of the extended family of Dan Fodio can vie for the job, though it seems to have been restricted mostly into the Mohammed Bello branch of the Family.
Maccido is not only prince of Abubakar household that may be interested in the Sultan’s job. Muhammad Bello Mai Wurno, 50years old is another of Abubakar’s 52 children who might be willing to be considered for the Job. He is the Corona of Sokoto, a title said to be equivalent to that of the crown prince.
Sarkin- Sudan Wurno, Sokoto state
Maccido was formerly the Ciroma before becoming the Sarkin Kudu. Like his elder brother who was the Presidential Liaison Officer, PLO, for Sokoto during the Second Republic.
Mai Wurno too had served in Government before retiring as a full- time traditional Councillor. He was an ambassador before becoming a member of the state’s executive council during the Shagari era.
Another strong contender is MUA’ZU LAMIDO, the eldest surviving son of the immediate past sultan, Hassan Dan. Muazu . Despite his age which is over 70 years old, he is a formidable candidate.
Moreso, he was a well tutored Islamic scholar who is said to be well versed in the Sharia, the tenet of Islamic laws, Lamido was a minister in Government of the defunct Northern Region during the First Republic. Since then, he has retired to Sokoto where he holds the traditional title of Sarkin Gabas.
There is also a Lagos factor in the mathematics of Sokoto politics. One of the strong candidates for the job based in Lagos is the durable Abubakar Alhaji, Minister of state in the office of the President. Alhaji, who was a Permanent Secretary for several years before becoming a Minister this year, is regarded as being very influential especially among the ranks of Northern bureaucrats and soldiers who holds the levels of power.
This network of Influence is regarded as priceless because the Sokoto throne is seen as not just a Sokoto affair, but a factor in the dynamics of Hausa- Fulani politics.
The pattern of alignments is not clear yet. The sultan, too, has not made his preference clear among the contending princes. In the sixties, Ahmadu Bello, as the Sarduna, regarded himself as the next sultan because Abubakar, too, was the Sarduna before ascending the throne.
However, when Abubakar made his son, Maccido, the Ciroma, a title imported from Kano.It was thought that he had made his preference about who should succeed him. Now the situation is different .
The sultan has refused to appoint a new person to the powerful post of Sardauna, 22 years after the last occupant was killed. Could it be that he would have preferred to make one of his sons the Sarduna, 22 years after the last occupant was killed. Could it be that he would have preferred to make one of his sons the Sarduna, but was wary of the attending hoopla of being accused of downright favourism?.
The winner may still be among the league of dark horses. Sokoto, seat of the old Caliphate, could still spring some surprises and when the time comes to play the royal roulette, there will be enough princes for the game
The development of Mariga Local Government Area remains my priority
Executive Chairman, Mariga Local Government Area