Sultan of Sokoto: Arewa youth issues 48-hour ultimatum to VeryDarkMan to retract statement, apologise

Ambassador Abdul Dan-Bature, ​the President of the Northern Nigeria Youths has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to social commentator VeryDarkMan (VDM), demanding a retraction and public apology for his recent remarks criticising the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.

Recall that the Sultan described social media as a “terrorist organisation” during a public event, expressing concerns over how misinformation spreads unchecked on the platforms.

In his reaction, the social media activist, on Thursday, posted a video online where he disagreed with the monarch’s views.

He said in the viral video, “With all due respect to the Sultan of Sokoto, it is quite disheartening for people like me to hear social media described as a terrorist organisation.

“As a respected royal figure and father to the nation, I believe more research should be done before making such strong claims. That said, since I now know you engage with social media, I have a message I hope you will help relay to those in power. Thank you, sir.”

Following the video, the president of Northern Nigeria Youths demanded a retraction and public apology from VDM, accusing him of disrespecting the Sultan.

“We the Northern youths are giving VeryDarkMan 48 hours to withdraw his statement and apologise to the Sultan of Sokoto,” Dan-Bature said in the video.

Other northern groups, including Islamic and traditional organisations, have also thrown their weight behind the monarch, calling any form of criticism against him an insult to the Muslim Ummah.

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has similarly vowed to defend the Sultan from what it described as disrespectful commentary.