Government | Thursday 30 April, 2015 12:03 am |

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, deputy premier and interior minister, and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, received on Wednesday night groups of princes, scholars, ministers, Shoura members as well officials and citizens, who offered pledge of allegiance to them.
The crown prince and the deputy crown prince accepted the pledge of allegiance from thousands of Saudis who flocked to the Governance Palace following a call made by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.

Among the firsts to arrive was Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh. Al-Asheikh was met and greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The grand mufti was later joined by a number of princes, officials and citizens. In his message of allegiance, Abdullah Al-Asheikh, Shoura Council president, said: “The royal decrees issued by King Salman on the selection of Prince Mohammed as the crown prince proves the long-standing approach on the selection of the best qualified men to undertake big responsibilities in the country.”

Al-Asheikh appreciated the appointment of Prince Mohammed bin Salman as deputy crown prince and second deputy premier in addition to his posts as minister of defense and head of the Council of Economic and Developmental Affairs. The Shoura chief offered his pledge of allegiance to the crown prince and the deputy crown prince in his message.
Speaking on this occasion, Minister of Transport Abdullah Al-Muqbil said: “The issuance of the royal decrees proves the keen desire of King Salman to improve the performance of the government and to initiate necessary reforms, while coping with the developments witnessed by the Kingdom, in particular, and the region, in general.”

Offering his pledge of allegiance to the two heirs appointed by the king, Al-Muqbil added: “These appointments are meant to achieve the aspirations of the citizens, upgrade the Kingdom’s position regionally and globally and realize the wellbeing of citizens in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah.”
Referring to the new appointments, Waleed Al-Samaani, minister of justice, said that the move comes in line with the political process adopted by the Kingdom. He voiced his pledge of allegiance to the new crown prince and the new deputy crown prince.

A number of high-ranking officials sent tweets welcoming the new appointments.
Minister of Education Azzam Al-Dakhil and Minister of Commerce and Industry Tawfiq Al-Rabiah also joined the top officials in pledging allegiance, praying to Allah “to bless King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in their endeavors to serve Islam and Muslims.”