By The New Diplomat Intelligence Desk
Following an alarm that the Sokoto State Government is allegedly planning to depose the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, Vice President Kashim Shettima has issued a stern warning against any development that would tamper with the traditional institution of the state.
This is as the Vice President declared that the Sultan of Sokoto must be jealously guarded and protected to forestall any breakdown of law and order in the state.
Shettima who spoke at the ongoing North West Peace & Security Summit in Katsina State, called on Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State to discard any idea of deposing the Sultan of Sokoto.
According to him, the Sultan is much more than a monarch, saying that he represents an idea for Sokoto State and Nigeria at large.
The vice president said the Sultan and other traditional rulers in the country need to jealousy guard, promote, and preserve the growth of our nation.
He said: “In all developmental issues in this country, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, I want to use him as a point of reference to recognise and appreciate all our royal fathers present here.
“And to the deputy governor of Sokoto, I have a simple message for you, Yes, the Sultan is the Sultan of Sokoto, but he is much more than that; he represents an idea, he is an Institution, that all of us in this country need to jealousy guard, protect, promote, preserve and project for the growth of our nation.”
The statement of Shettima comes a few hours after the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Council (MURIC), Prof. Isiaq Akintola, had raised alarm that the Sokoto State government is allegedly plotting to depose the Sultan.
In a statement on Monday, Akintola said Nigerian Muslims would reject any thought of deposing the Sultan after the state Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, deposed 15 traditional rulers for various offences.
