The Sokoto State government has given Vice President Kashim Shettima a public rebuke over his admonition that the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III must be guarded jealously, saying that he should always cross check facts before commenting on sensitive national matters.
Responding to the warning publicly made by the Vice President at the Northwest Security summit in Katsina on Monday, the State government said that instead of the public rebuke, the Vice President should have contacted Governor Ahmed Aliyu to verify the news which made rounds on the purported plan to depose the Sultan.
In a statement by the Spokesperson to the Governor, Abubakar Bawa, the State government urged the Vice President to always have full knowledge of issues of national concern before commenting on them.
According to the statement: “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.”
