Posted by By NATH OSEWELE, Sokoto on
A mixture of thick aroma of burning incense,palpable gloom and a whiff of tension have continued to hang over the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto like harmattan haze.
A mixture of thick aroma of burning incense,palpable gloom and a whiff of tension have continued to hang over the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto like harmattan haze. The atmosphere is so suffused with it that you can conveniently touch it.
According to a source at the palace, never in the history of the sultanate has it experienced a calamity of such magnitude. But beyond the feeling of great loss is the politics of succession. Despite every effort to it play down, Daily Sun reliably gathered that the tussle to succeed the late Sultan Maccido began even before his corpse was laid to rest last Sunday night.
At least seven persons have been named as likely successors,but two keep of them have remained in everybody's lips.
However, this is apparently not because of their popularity or acceptability. They are Alhaji Alhaji and Alhaji Dasuki, the dethroned sultan. Others are Sambo Dasuki, Shehu Malami, Mu'azu Lamido, younger brother to the late Sultan Abubakar and uncle to the immediate past Sultan, Barayen Zaki, Abubakar Mohammed Maccido, eldest son of the deceased, and Mohammed Bello, Mai Wurno (head of Sokoto north).
However, there are fears of the likelihood of Alhaji Alhaji being favoured. Those who share this feeling hinge their belief on what a place official termed "Alhaji Alhaji's chummy relationship with the governor".
The task of selecting the next emir rests squarely on the shoulders of an 11-man team headed by Waziri Sokoto (senior councilor). Other members include Magajin Gari, Magajin Rafin, Sakin Kabin Yabo, Sarkin Adar Dundaye, Galadinman Gari, Sarkin Yabin Binji, Baraden Wamako, Ardon Shuni, Ardon Dingyadi,and Sair Kilgore.
It is not certain whether they have commenced the process of selecting the next emir, but a palace source said the task before the 11 wise men is enormous and pray that Allah would guide them to make the right choice.
However, a Government House aide dismissed the insinuation that the governor might influence the decision of the kingmakers in choosing the next Sultan. In fact, the source described the talks about a successor for the late Maccido as rather premature and a desecration of all that he worked and died for.
"It is even too soon now. Haba, it's just three days since he died. People should learn to conduct there affairs with some element of decorum and respect."