Vice President Shettima Defends Sultan of Sokoto Amid Deposition Allegations
Vice President Kashim Shettima has firmly described the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, as an institution that must be jealously guarded and protected. His comments follow concerns raised by the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Council (MURIC), Prof. Isiaq Akintola, regarding an alleged plot by the Sokoto government to depose the Sultan.
In a statement released on Monday, Akintola warned that Nigerian Muslims would reject any attempt to depose the Sultan. This alarm comes in the wake of Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s recent decision to depose 15 traditional rulers for various offenses.
Speaking at the ongoing North West Peace & Security Summit in Katsina State, Shettima emphasized the significance of the Sultan beyond his role as a monarch, highlighting his representation of an important idea and institution.
“In all developmental issues in this country, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, I want to use him as a point of reference to recognize and appreciate all our royal fathers present here,” Shettima said. Addressing the Sokoto government’s deputy governor directly, he added, “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 jealously guard, protect, promote, preserve, and project for the growth of our nation.”
The vice president’s remarks underscore the critical role traditional rulers, including the Sultan, play in the country’s stability and development. This defense of the Sultan comes amid broader concerns about the potential impact of governmental actions on the traditional institutions and their ability to contribute to national unity and progress.
