Nigeria vice president, Kashim Shettima has said the Sultan of Sokoto represents an institution that must be jealously guarded and projected for the growth of the country.
The VP spoke at the ‘Inaugural North West Peace and Security Summit’ held in Katsina on Monday.
The event was organised by the north-west governors’ forum in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
On Monday, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) had made allegation that the state government of Sokoto is scheming to dethrone Muhammad Abubakar as the Sultan of Sokoto.
But whilst speaking at the event, VP Shettima said the Sultan and other traditional rulers in the country need to be “promoted and preserved”.
“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,” Shettima said.
“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 jealousy guard, protect, promote, preserve and project for the growth of our nation.”