Vice President Kashim Shettima comments on Monday that the Sultan of Sokoto was much more than just being the Sultan, as he represented an idea, has drawn the ire of a northern group which has sided with Sokoto State Government over its face-off with the paramount ruler in the state.
Said Shettima: The Sultan is the Sultan of Sokoto. But he is much more than that, as he represents an idea. All of us in this country need to jealously guard, protect, promote, preserve, and project for the growth of our nation.”
Speaking at the ongoing North West Peace & Security Summit in Katsina State, the nation’s number two man urged the Sokoto State government to protect the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.
He adds: “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 jealously guard, protect, promote, preserve, and project for the growth of our nation.”
But the Arewa Cultural Heritage Network (ACHN), a little known group which appeared to be speaking the mind of the Sokoto government, more or less told the vice president to mind his business and steer clear of the internal affairs of Sokoto State.
In a statement signed by Yunusa Abdullahi, the ACHN said the Sultan of Sokoto, despite his esteemed position, has been found guilty of neglecting his palace duties, showing disloyalty, and demonstrating a lack of respect towards the current administration.
“His evident support for the PDP candidate during the last election, despite the electorate’s mandate for Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, has further strained relations. The Sultan’s continued efforts to undermine the government’s initiatives have made it challenging to foster mutual cooperation.
“We strongly urge the Vice President and other federal officials to refrain from interfering in state governance matters. The Governor of Sokoto State is well within his rights to make decisions that align with the constitutional framework and the welfare of the state.
“Furthermore, we call upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to ensure that the Vice President respects the boundaries of state governance and allows the Sokoto State Government to function without undue interference.
“The proposed amendment to section 76 of the local government and chieftaincy law is intended to align legal frameworks with customary procedures in Sokoto.
“It aims to clarify the roles and responsibilities within the state, ensuring a smooth and effective governance process.
”The authority to appoint district and village heads, while still involving recommendations from the Sultanate Council, will ultimately lie with the Governor, reflecting both traditional and contemporary practices.
“We believe that this alignment will promote greater stability and progress within Sokoto State. It is crucial for all parties involved to work together harmoniously for the betterment of our community.”
Recall that the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) earlier on Monday, in a statement, alleged a plan by Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State to depose the Sultan.
The Executive Director of MURIC, Prof. Isiaq Akintola, said: “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.
“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.
“A military governor, Col. Yakubu Muazu, exposed this soft underbelly when he deposed Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki on 20th April, 1996. Nigerian Muslims will be forced to make a hard decision if Sokoto governors continue to diminish the authority of the Sultan.
“For the avoidance of any doubts, Sultan Muhammad Sa’d Abubakar is not only the Sultan of Sokoto but the Sultan of the Nigerian people. His performance and style of leadership have warmed him into the hearts of Nigerians.
“Nigerian Muslims, North and South of the country, may be constrained to pick Islamic scholars only as President-General of the NSCIA and overall leader of Nigerian Muslims.
“It will be farewell to the leadership of traditional rulers over the NSCIA and an irreversible departure from Sokoto’s priviledged leadership position. But history will not be kind to Col. Yakubu Muazu and Ahmed Aliyu for ruining the chances of Sokoto.
“Once is happenstance, twice is a coincidence, the third time is enemy action. If the deposition of a Sultan and NSCIA leader happens a second time, Nigerian Muslims will not allow the embarrassment to happen a third time.
“MURIC reiterates its call on the Sokoto State House of Assembly to either repeal or review the state’s chieftaincy laws by adding the phrase ‘except the Sultan of Sokoto’ to Section 6, Cap 26 of the Laws of Northern Nigeria which empowers the state governor to depose the emirs including the Sultan.
“We urge Northern elites and Islamic scholars based in the North to intervene before it is too late. This is the time to lobby the Sokoto State House of Assembly and the governor himself. If the chieftaincy laws of Kano State can be repealed within 24 hours, nothing stops that of Sokoto State from being reviewed in favour of immunity for the office of the Sultan in a single day to save Nigerian Muslims from humongous embarrassment.”
