No plan to depose Sultan, Sokoto govt replies Shettima

The Sokoto State Government has called on Vice President Kashim Shettima to always cross-check facts before commenting on sensitive national matters.

Recall that Shettima and the Peoples Democratic Party, on Monday, cautioned against an alleged plot to remove the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, by the state government.

The state government, in a press statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Abubakar Bawa, and made available to newsmen in the state on Tuesday, noted that the Vice President ought to have consulted the governor before going public.

The statement read, “This is coming in the wake of a recent pronouncement made by the Vice President in Katsina State regarding the false story circulating that the Ahmed Aliyu-led administration is planning to remove Sultan Muhammad Saad Abubakar.

“We sincerely expected the Vice President to have consulted the governor before going public.  The state government urges  Vice President Shettima as the No. 2 citizen to have full knowledge of issues of national concern before commenting on them.

“As an elder statesman and a father to all, he should have facts and figures before judging 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.”

The statement further stated that the 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 added.

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