Vice-President Kashim Shettima delivered a passionate plea to the Sokoto State government, emphasizing the paramount importance of safeguarding the revered position of His Eminence, Alhaji Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto.
Addressing attendees at the North West Peace & Security Summit in Katsina State, broadcasted live on Trust TV, Shettima stressed the symbolic significance of the Sultan as not merely a regional leader but as a national institution representing unity and tradition.
“In all our nation’s endeavors, we must acknowledge and honor His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, as a beacon of wisdom and tradition,” Shettima remarked, underscoring the Sultan’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s developmental landscape.
Directing his message to the deputy governor of Sokoto, Shettima underscored the imperative to safeguard, nurture, and elevate the Sultan’s stature for the collective progress of the nation.
The urgency of Shettima’s plea was accentuated by concerns raised by the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Council (MURIC), Prof. Isiaq Akintola, regarding purported plans by the Sokoto government to depose the Sultan.
Amidst speculations fueled by the recent deposition of 15 traditional rulers by Governor Ahmed Aliyu, Akintola cautioned against any attempts to undermine the Sultan’s authority, stressing its dual significance as both a traditional and religious cornerstone.
“The Sultan’s seat transcends mere tradition; it embodies religious significance and carries jurisdictional weight beyond Sokoto, encompassing the entirety of Nigeria,” Akintola emphasized, warning of potential repercussions should the sanctity of the Sultanate be compromised.
MURIC’s unequivocal stance echoed sentiments across Nigerian Muslims, denouncing any actions that threaten the Sultan’s position, which amalgamates the roles of spiritual leader and national figurehead.
