The crisis brewing at the sultanate council has taken a
dramatic turn with senior counsellors calling on Sultan
Abubakar Sa’ad III to institute disciplinary
proceedings against Hassan Danbaba, the magajin
garin Sokoto and grandson of Ahmadu Bello, former
sardauna of Sokoto and premier of the north.

Danbaba had threatened to resign his position as he
walked out on the sultan during a meeting convened
to reconcile him with former minister of youth
development, Inuwa Abdulkadir.

Abdulkadir, who is the national vice chairman (north-
west) of the APC, is contesting for the post of marafan
Sokoto, which became vacant with the death of Umaru
Shinkafi.

TheCable understands that Danbaba had expressed
his opposition to Abdulkadir’s bid for the prestigious
title, saying as a “child of slaves” in the caliphate,
Abdulkadir had no lineage to aspire for the title.

Palace sources informed TheCable that following a
public spat between the two leaders, the sultan
instituted a committee under the leadership of former
governor of old Sokoto state, Yahaya Abdulkarim, to
broker peace between them and report back to him.

“Malam Yahaya met with the two leaders and made a
headway in reconciling them. He also extracted
commitment from them that all court cases instituted
by both parties should be withdrawn. Importantly, they
agreed to forgive each other and cease public rantings
against each other,” an insider told TheCable.

“It was also agreed that on the matter of appointment
of new marafa, due process will be followed by the
palace and whoever emerges should be respected.”

Danbaba is reportedly under under investigation by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
over his role as consultant in the Paris Club refunds
saga and an earlier petition against him for allegedly
abandoning some projects in Taraba after he collecting
payment from the regime of late Danbaba Danfulani
Suntai.

The source added: “After the peace parley at the
palace, EFCC wrote to Danbaba requesting he appears
before them to explain his role in the Paris Club refunds
saga, and to brief them on the contract he allegedly
abandoned in Taraba after collecting funds.

“Sensing the opportunity to involve the sultanate
council, he asked the kingmakers to intervene and
seek a soft landing for him from EFCC.

“That effort was rebuffed, and it was made clear to him
that the palace will not be involved in his personal
dealings.”

Another source told TheCable: “Danbaba was advised
to allow the law take its course. He was told that if he
was innocent of the charges as claimed, he had no
reason to fear.

“He then flared up and walked out on the meeting,
threatening the sultan and warning that he may not
last long on his seat if he can’t stand by his close
associates.”

Danbaba walked out on the meeting with the sultan
and threatened to resign his position as magajin gari
and kingmaker, TheCable was informed.

“We were angered by his show of disrespect to the
sultan and other senior citizens at the meeting,” the
source added.

Thereafter, he was reported to have returned his
official vehicles.

However, sources at the palace said once he puts in a
formal letter of resignation, it will be accepted.

“He is yet to do that. We’ll gladly accept his
resignation without any hesitation. You can’t
disrespect the institution for your selfish
considerations. The sultan has shown great desire to
reconcile him and Abdulkadir, but it appears he hasn’t
shown similar gesture,” a kingmaker said.

TheCable