by Idris Muhammed Abdullahi
I read with considerable amusement and great disappointment the hollow, misguided, and embarrassingly shallow diatribe issued by the so-called Middle Belt Forum (MBF) against the proposed elevation of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, as a permanent Co-Chairman of the National Council for Traditional Rulers of Nigeria. That a group of supposedly educated individuals could reduce national discourse to such a festering pit of envy, ignorance, and petty tribal sentiment is a tragic commentary on the intellectual decay of those claiming to speak for the Middle Belt.
Let us begin by addressing the elephant in the room: the seat of the Sultan of Sokoto is not a mere stool like others. It is not just traditional it is transcendent. The Sultan of Sokoto is not only a first-class traditional ruler but also the supreme spiritual leader of millions of Nigerian Muslims, a role that no other monarch Middle Belt or otherwise can lay claim to. His influence transcends geography, ethnicity, and time.
To even suggest, in the reckless words of the MBF, that the Sultan is “junior” to the likes of the Aku Uka of Wukari or the Attah of Igala is not just historically illiterate, it is an insult to the collective intelligence of Nigerians. One wonders: do the authors of this document even understand what the Caliphate is? Do they know the magnitude of Usman Ɗan Fodio’s revolution, the structure of Islamic governance it birthed, or the global historical relevance of Sokoto as a centre of scholarship and administration?
Let me educate the ill-informed authors:
The Sokoto Caliphate was not just a kingdom, it was a continental Islamic theocracy, rooted in deep jurisprudence, social justice, and administrative excellence. It united vast territories through meritocratic leadership, Islamic scholarship, and organized governance. Even the British, with all their colonial arrogance, could not ignore the sophistication of the Caliphate’s institutions. That is why they preserved the Sultanate post-1903 instead of abolishing it. And today, over two centuries later, the Sultan remains a beacon of unity, peace, and religious tolerance in a fragmented nation.
Now to the MBF’s attempt to rewrite history:
How laughable it is to suggest that the Aku Uka, Attah, Tor Tiv, or even the Etsu Nupe somehow “outrank” the Sultan because of their supposed age. Monarchies are not ranked by age. If that were the case, the Pharaohs of Egypt would still be lording over humanity. Relevance, reach, and responsibility define hierarchy in statecraft and by every metric, the Sultanate dwarfs these local chieftaincies.
Furthermore, invoking Kanem-Bornu against Sokoto is like comparing Athens to Rome—both are respectable legacies, but their influence diverged. The Shehu of Borno himself, a man of immense dignity, has never descended to the level of petty comparisons. He knows the importance of institutional maturity over emotional posturing.
And what is most offensive? The shameful attempt to link the Sultan to violence by invoking Miyetti Allah and banditry. This is the language of a frustrated mind grasping for mud to throw when it has no facts left. The Sultan has been a consistent voice for peace, dialogue, and reconciliation—something many of these ethnic merchants of resentment have failed to do for their communities.
Let’s not forget:
Many of these Middle Belt “kingdoms” never had centralized governance until the colonialists forced one on them. The Tiv, for instance, were acephalous. Today’s Tor Tiv is a colonial fabrication for administrative convenience. No shame in that—but please don’t stand on that artificiality to attack a time-tested institution like the Sultanate.
The bill proposes a co-chairmanship shared with the Ooni of Ife, another great and ancient monarch. So what’s the noise about? Could it be that some in the Middle Belt simply cannot stomach the idea that relevance is earned, not shouted into existence through press releases?
If the MBF is truly concerned about equity, let it elevate its monarchs through substance, not saboteur rhetoric. Let them build institutions of peace, diplomacy, and learning that command national and global respect like the Sultanate has.
Until then, I advise Luka Binniyat and his co-travellers to go back to school, read a real history book, and most importantly learn some humility.
We in the Sultanate do not shout our influence. We embody it.
Idris Muhammed Abdullahi
Proud Son of the Sultanate
Dan Sarki Mai Takama da Ikon Allah
Scholar, Historian, and Pan-Africanist
July 29, 2025
🔗 Original article: Middle Belt: We will resist attempt to make Sultan, Ooni permanent co-chairmen of National Council for Traditional Rulers
