Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed the belief that the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, should be safeguarded and shielded as a vital institution.
Shettima’s remarks came in response to concerns raised by Professor Isiaq Akintola, the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Council (MURIC), suggesting that the Sokoto government might be planning to oust the Sultan.
In a statement issued on Monday, Akintola stated that Nigerian Muslims would strongly oppose any move to depose the Sultan, especially after the state Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, had removed 15 traditional rulers for various reasons.
Addressing the ongoing North West Peace & Security Summit in Katsina State, Shettima advised the Sokoto government that the Sultan holds a significance beyond just being a monarch, as he symbolizes a profound concept.
The vice president stressed that the Sultan and other traditional leaders in the nation should fervently protect, support, and uphold the nation’s progress.
He remarked, “In every aspect of development in this country, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, serves as a symbol representing all the royal fathers gathered here.
“To the deputy governor of Sokoto, I have a straightforward message – while the Sultan holds the title in Sokoto, his role transcends that; he embodies an idea, an institution that demands vigilant protection, promotion, preservation, and advancement for our nation’s growth.”