“The Sultan Represents an Idea and Institution That Must Be Jealously Guarded” – VP Shettima

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has called on the Sokoto State Government to ensure the protection and reverence of His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto. Speaking at the North West Peace & Security Summit, currently broadcast live on Trust TV, Shettima emphasized the Sultan’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s development and unity.

Addressing attendees, Shettima said, “Our father, His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto, is a permanent fixture in all developmental issues in this country. He represents more than just Sokoto; he embodies an idea and an institution that must be jealously guarded, protected, promoted, preserved, and projected for the good of our nation.”

This statement follows concerns raised by Prof. Isiaq Akintola, Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Council (MURIC), about an alleged plot to depose the Sultan by the Sokoto State Government. Akintola warned against any attempt to dethrone the Sultan, highlighting his dual role as the spiritual head of Nigerian Muslims and the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

Akintola stated, “Any governor who tampers with the Sultan’s stool will face the collective resistance of Nigerian Muslims. The Sultan’s position is not only traditional but also religious, extending beyond Sokoto to the entire nation.”

The Sokoto State Government has yet to respond to MURIC’s allegations. However, it previously announced plans to amend Section 76 of the local government and chieftaincy law to align it with contemporary practices. Currently, the Sultanate Council recommends candidates for district and village heads, while the governor holds the final authority to appoint.

Nasir Binji, Sokoto’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, explained that the proposed amendment would maintain the Sultanate Council’s role in recommending candidates but would solidify the governor’s authority to make appointments, aiming to synchronize legal frameworks with customary procedures in the state.