VP Shettima slams alleged plot to dethrone Sultan of Sokoto

Vice President Kashim Shettima has referred to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, as an institution that must be jealously maintained and protected.

Shettima made this statement in response to Prof. Isiaq Akintola, Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Council (MURIC), who claimed that the Sokoto government was preparing to topple the Sultan.

In a statement on Monday, Akintola said Nigerian Muslims would reject any thought of deposing the Sultan after the state Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, deposed 15 traditional rulers for various offences.

Speaking at the ongoing North West Peace & Security Summit in Katsina State, Shettima told the Sokoto government that the Sultan is much more than a monarch, saying that he represents an idea.

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The vice president said the Sultan and other traditional rulers in the country need to jealousy guard, promote, and preserve the growth of our nation.

He said, “In all developmental issues in this country, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, I want to use him as a point of reference to recognise and appreciate all our royal fathers present here.

“And to the deputy governor of Sokoto, I have a simple message for you, 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 jealousy guard, protect, promote, preserve and project for the growth of our nation.”