Sultan of Sokoto must be protected, says Shettima

Vice-President Kashim Shettima says the Sultan of Sokoto represents an idea that must be jealously guarded and projected for the growth of the nation.

Shettima spoke at the ‘Inaugural North West Peace and Security Summit’ in Katsina on Monday.

The event was organised by the north-west governors’ forum and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

On Monday, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) had alleged that the Sokoto state government is plotting to dethrone Muhammad Abubakar as the Sultan of Sokoto.

However, the vice-president said the Sultan and other traditional rulers in the country need to be “promoted and preserved”.

“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,” Shettima said.

“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.”

MURIC had asked Ahmad Aliyu, governor of Sokoto, to exercise restraint and not tamper with the traditional institution.

The Islamic group had cited the dethronement of 15 traditional rulers by the state governor in April 2024 as basis for the statement.

The organisation said the pedestal of the Sultan of Sokoto is not only traditional but religious, adding that the Sultan doubles as the head of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

The group warned the Sokoto governor not to “force Nigerian Muslims to take a drastically revolutionary measure”.