Vice-President Kashim Shettima has called on the government of Sokoto State to safeguard His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, emphasizing his critical role as a national institution. This appeal was made during the North West Peace & Security Summit currently held in Katsina State.
Shettima’s remarks came after the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Council (MURIC), Prof. Isiaq Akintola, raised concerns about an alleged plot by the Sokoto government to depose the Sultan. Governor Ahmed Aliyu had previously deposed 15 traditional rulers for various offenses, leading to fears that the Sultan might be next.
“In all developmental issues in this country, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, I want to use him as a point of reference to recognize 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 jealously guard, protect, promote, preserve, and project for the growth of our nation,” Shettima said.
Prof. Akintola of MURIC has publicly warned that the Sokoto government may target the Sultan next, using the same pretexts employed to dethrone the other traditional rulers. He asserted that Nigerian Muslims would strongly oppose any attempt to depose the Sultan, stressing that his role extends beyond Sokoto as the spiritual head of all Nigerian Muslims.
“Feelers in circulation indicate that the governor may descend on the Sultan of Sokoto any moment from now using any of the flimsy excuses used to dethrone the 15 traditional rulers whom he removed earlier,” Akintola stated.
“MURIC advises the governor to look before he leaps. The Sultan’s stool is not only traditional. It is also religious. In the same vein, his jurisdiction goes beyond Sokoto. It covers the whole of Nigeria. He is the spiritual head of all Nigerian Muslims. Therefore, any governor who tampers with the stool of the Sultan will have Nigerian Muslims to reckon with because the Sultan combines the office of the Sultan of Sokoto and that of the President General of the NSCIA,” he added.
The Sokoto State Government has not yet responded to MURIC’s allegations. However, it previously announced plans to amend section 76 of the local government and chieftaincy law to align with current practices within the state. Currently, the Sultanate Council recommends candidates for district and village head positions, but the governor has the final authority to appoint.
Nasir Binji, the state’s attorney-general and commissioner for justice, explained that the proposed amendment aims to synchronize the legal framework with customary procedures in Sokoto. Under this amendment, the Sultanate Council would continue to provide recommendations, while the governor retains the appointment authority.
The role of the Sultan of Sokoto as both a traditional and religious leader makes the position highly significant in Nigeria. The Sultan’s influence extends beyond the borders of Sokoto, affecting the entire Nigerian Muslim community. This dual role highlights the importance of safeguarding the Sultanate from political and administrative turbulence.
