Bridle your tongues, Sultan tells northern monarchs

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar II, has urged northern traditional leaders to be wary of their public utterances for the sake of dignity.

Speaking yesterday at the ongoing second Kano Economic and Investment Submit, the Sultan submitted:

“Traditional leaders are to be seen and not to be heard.”

Though he avoided mentioning the crisis involving the emirate and the state government, Abubakar II, however, advised the traditional rulers to stick to their customary role.

He posited that traditional leaders were strategically positioned to advise political leaders in a manner that engenders peace and development of the state.

Governor Abdulahi Umar Ganduje recently wrote the Kano State House of Assembly asking it to suspend the probe of Muhammadu Emir Sanusi II over alleged financial malfeasance and uncomplimentary remarks against the government. He had cited the intervention of prominent Nigerians for the move.

But the Sultan, however, charged governments in the region to focus on provision of job opportunities for the teeming youths to guarantee a conducive atmosphere for economic growth and development.

He urged political leaders to take advantage of the economic crisis in the land so as to engender prosperity.

“Government needs to do little to provide means of livelihood for the poor to survive. It is only the elite that need much. And creating job opportunities is want can guarantee a peaceful society and development in our region.”