In a riposte to a veiled warning to it against purported plans to dethrone the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sokoto state government has asked Vice President Kashim Shettima to always cross check facts before commenting on sensitive national matters.
By Emma Ogbuehi
In a riposte to a veiled warning to it against purported plans to dethrone the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar 111, the Sokoto state government has asked Vice President Kashim Shettima to always cross check facts before commenting on sensitive national matters.
The Vice President had reportedly warned against the alleged plot by the Sokoto State government to dethrone the Sultan.
Shettima issued the warning at a Northwest Security summit in Katsina, attended by the Sultan and the Sokoto State Deputy Governor who represented the governor, Ahmed Aliyu. He remarked the Sultan is not just the Sultan of Sokoto but an idea that must be protected.
Shettima said: “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 must jealously guard, protect, promote, preserve and project for the good of our nation.”
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Responding to the warning on Monday, Sokoto state government said the Vice President should have contacted Governor Ahmed Aliyu to verify the news which made rounds on the purported plan to depose the Sultan before going public.
In a statement signed by the spokesman of Governor Aliyu, Abubakar Bawa, the government urged the Vice President to always have full knowledge of issues of national concern before commenting on them.
“We sincerely expected the Vice President to have consulted the Governor before going public.
“As an elder statesman and a father to all he should have facts and figures before judging on issues raised by mischief makers and the mushroom social media handlers known for negative propaganda.
“The fact of the matter is that there was never any attempt to sack the Sultan nor have we sent him any threat regarding that.
“Sultan enjoys all the powers he is entitled to. We never denied him any of his freedom or rights.
“We therefore do not need to be told to guard, protect, and promote the Sultan. It is our sole responsibility.
“The government and People of Sokoto cherish and adore the sultanate council and would do everything possible to protect the dignity of the revered institution. The Government to this end reassures all Nigerians that, it will continue to protect the sultanate council and its dignity at all times,” the statement read.
Apart from the Vice President, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has also raised alarm over the alleged plot by Sokoto state government to depose the Sultan. The Executive Director of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, raised the alarm in a statement on Monday.