According to the report from the Vanguard, the executive director of the Muslim Rights Concern, Ishaq Akintola acknowledged the legal authority granted to governors in Northern Nigeria to appoint and remove Sultans or Emirs but argued for a more considerate approach when dealing with the Sultanate due to its significance for the Muslim community.
Comparing the situation to the Christian community's leadership, he emphasized that even Nigeria's President respects the autonomy of the Christian Association of Nigeria and refrains from interfering with its president's position.
Advocating for similar independence and immunity for the Sultan's role, he called for the removal of governors' power to depose the Sultan, seeking to protect the position and the Muslim community's representation from potential political manipulations.
Ishaq Akintola said this while reacting to the recent crisis in Sokoto, regarding the removal of the Sultan of Sokoto.
He said, "The laws of Northern Nigeria empower the governor to remove the Sultan or any Emir after appointing them. But concerning the Sultanate, there should be some kind of regard for the Muslim community and our feelings. For instance, nobody, not even the President of Nigeria (Tinubu) can tamper with the position of the President of the Christians Association of Nigeria. It is independent. Right now, what we are canvassing for is that kind of independence and immunity for the position of the Sultan so that no governor will have the power to remove him."