Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged the Sokoto State government to protect and cherish His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto.
Shettima made this statement at the ongoing North West Peace & Security Summit, being broadcast live on Trust TV from Katsina State.
“In all developmental issues in this country, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, serves as a point of reference. I want to recognize and appreciate all our royal fathers present here,” Shettima said. He further emphasized the importance of the Sultan, saying,
“The Sultan is more than just the Sultan of Sokoto; he represents an idea, an institution that we must guard, protect, promote, preserve, and project for the growth of our nation.”
Shettima's comments followed a warning from the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Council (MURIC), Prof. Isiaq Akintola, who alleged that the Sokoto government was plotting to depose the Sultan. Governor Ahmed Aliyu had recently deposed 15 traditional rulers for various offenses.
Akintola stated that Nigerian Muslims would reject any attempt to depose the Sultan, highlighting that the Sultan's role is both traditional and religious, with influence extending beyond Sokoto to the entire nation as the spiritual head of all Nigerian Muslims.
The Sokoto State Government has not yet responded to MURIC’s allegations but had earlier indicated plans to amend section 76 of the local government and chieftaincy law to align with current practices. Under the current law, the Sultanate Council recommends candidates for district and village head positions,
while the governor makes the final appointments. The proposed amendment aims to synchronize the legal framework with customary procedures, ensuring the Sultanate Council retains recommendation powers, while the governor has the authority to appoint.
Nasir Binji, the state’s attorney-general and commissioner for justice, explained that the amendment is intended to harmonize the legal and customary practices in Sokoto.
