It seems to be a game of musical chairs in Kano Emirate as 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II was on Thursday reinstated to the throne four years after former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje deposed and banished him from the state.
Muhammadu Sanusi II’s recall came after Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf assented to the new Emirate Law passed by the Kano House of Assembly yesterday.
The Assembly in the last administration had amended the existing law and approved an increase in the number of first class Emirs to five, a development that led to the deposition of the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II.
The new law repealed the four additional Emirates – Rano, Karaye, Bichi and Gaya, created by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, and reverted the emirate to the old order of one emirate system in the state.
LEADERSHIP reports that the present Assembly had, earlier in the day, amended the law that established five Emirate Councils in Kano State by reverting to the former status quo.
The new law, Kano State Emirate Council (Amendment No. 2) Law, 2024, also reinstates Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II to the seat he occupied before the now repealed law was enacted by the last state administration. Going by this turn of event, the five emirs created by the Ganduje administration have no emirates to govern.
Following this, Governor Yusuf gave all the five dethroned Emirs in the state 48 hours to hand over everything belonging to the Emirates to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,
Comrade Aminu Abdussalam, who is also the deputy governor of Kano State.
Earlier, Deputy Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. Muhammad Butu-Butu, had explained that repealing the law would revive the lost glory of Kano as the division of Kano Emirate into five reduced the capacity and dignity of the state at national level.
On his part, the majority leader, Alhaji Lawan Hussaini Dala said the Emirate Council served as a custodian of culture which was distorted by the creation of additional emirates.
Dala explained to journalists that with the amendment of the law, all the five emirate councils had been abolished while the commissioner for local government would serve as the overseer.
The House also adopted a motion to create new second class emirate councils in the state. It is expected to deliberate on the creation of second class emirates that will be under the new Emir of Kano. The session is expected to take place on Friday.
Meanwhile, there has not been any announcement of banishment of the dethroned Emirs by the state government.
It was learned that the dethroned Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, had not been in town for the past three days.
LEADERSHIP reports that this is the first time this is happening in the history of Kano, although the late Emir of Kano Ado Bayero, the father of the dethroned Aminu Ado Bayero, was suspended by the then governor of Kano, Abubakar Rimi.
However, no new Emir was appointed at the time he was reinstated.
LEADERSHIP deepens exclusive with drama of last hours to reinstallation
With less than one week to mark his one year anniversary in office, Governor Yusuf took the drastic action in the state when he signed a law by the state house of assembly that repealed the former law enacted by the government of Ganduje to create the new emirates.
The lawmakers set aside the previous law and dissolved all the five emirs of the state including that of Kano while the governor had after assenting to the new law at government house Kano announced the reappointment of Sanusi as the new emir of Kano.
He said the state would go back to its former status with only one first class emir.
LEADERSHIP can report that the governor had planned to sign the law today and bring Emir Sanusi back from Lagos for reinstatement.
However, there were rumors that opponents were plotting to obtain a court order to prevent the governor from implementing the new law.
Upon receiving this information, the governor signed the law hastily signed the law yesterday.
Sanusi was also swiftly flown from Rivers State where he was attending an investment summit to Kano to forestall the collection of the court order and his stoppage from entering his palace.
This is even as security operatives including DSS personnel were deployed massively in the palace of the emir to avert potential break down of law and order.
Nigerians were amazed by the drama and the unfolding events in the royal house.
Governor Yusuf had immediately after winning the 2023 polls embarked on ‘reprisal mission’ by revoking most of the approvals made by his predecessor.
State Calm, Mixed Reactions On Kano Streets
Meanwhile, the city was calm yesterday with people sharing different views concerning the decision of the Assembly.
The calmness in the state was evident in the state governor’s activities as he was physically attending public functions, including the ground breaking event for the construction of 500 housing units by the Federal Ministry of Lands and Urban Development.
There have been mixed feelings among residents of Kano following the dissolution of the four Emirates councils by the Kano State House of Assembly and signing it into law by Governor Abba Yusuf on Thursday.
A resident of Kano, Ahamad Aliyu, expressed worry at the reversal, saying the decentralisation of the emirate had brought development to those localities, but that since it had been reversed by law, everything is left to God.
Another concerned resident, Abdullahi Abubakar, prayed that this reversal doesn’t become a tenure issue where every government would come and do what they like, distorting the traditional history of the state.
According to him, the action of the lawmakers is politically motivated to serve an individual’s interest – that of the leader of the ruling party, noting that the rush to pass it into law showed their sentiment.
On his part, a middle-aged tricycle rider, Usman Tanimu, expressed happiness at the return of Emir Sanusi Muhammadu II, stating that he is very sound and loved by many.
He said Emir Sanusi is a cheerful giver who reaches out to those in need and a man who is never afraid of telling the truth.
LEADERSHIP observed the presence of officers of the Nigeria Police Force around the palace of the deposed Emir, who was at the time of filing this report not in Kano State.
The situation at the palace was sober as people gathered in clusters discussing the dissolution of the emirate councils.
Northern Elders Express Worry
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) said it is extremely worried and agitated by the recent events in Kano, where emirates have been multiplied and traditional rulers have been dethroned and replaced, saying it is a clear example of the struggles faced by traditional rulers in the country.
The NEF equally expressed worry that the recent crisis surrounding the emirate in Kano State had raised tensions and concerns among the public, and, as responsible citizens, urged the government of Kano State and politicians involved to exercise caution in handling this sensitive issue in order to prevent further escalation of tensions.
According to a statement signed by NEF’s director of publicity and advocacy, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, the elders said it is important for all parties involved to approach this matter with the utmost care and professionalism, keeping in mind the potential consequences of their actions.
“Rash decisions and inflammatory statements can only serve to worsen the situation and jeopardise the peace and stability of the state,” they said.
The NEF also called upon the public to remain calm and law-abiding in the face of these incidents, stressing that it is crucial that people do not engage in any actions that could potentially threaten the peace and security of the state.
How Kano Assembly Set Stage For Emir’s Recall
The Kano State House of Assembly yesterday passed into law the Kano State Emirate Council bill (amendment no. 2) and the Kano State Emirs Appointment and Deposition Amendment law 2019.
The law repealed the four additional Emirates – Rano, Karaye, Bichi and Gaya, created by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, and reverted the emirate to the old order of one emirate system in the state.
The Assembly in the last administration had amended the law that approved an increase in the number of first class Emirs to five, a development that led to the deposition of the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II.
The Kano State Emirate Council Amendment Bill 2024 And Emirs Appointment and Deposition Amendment Bill 2024 were considered on the floor of the House after scaling second and third reading during Thursday’s plenary session presided over by the speaker, Hon. Ismail Falgore.
Earlier, the deputy speaker of the House, Alhaji Muhammad Butu-Butu, during the second reading of the bill explained that repealing the law was spurred by the need to have a single emir in the state.
He said the creation of the new emirate had caused disunity at national level, arguing that previously when the state was called to represent Kano at Emirs’ council, security council or other matters, one representative spoke on behalf of the whole state, but the division into five had reduced the capacity and dignity of the delegation and fostered division.
“By having a single Emir, the capacity, the integrity, the personality of the state would be very much better,” he posited
He added that the aim of creating the emirates had been defeated. According to him, when they were created, it was believed they would bring development to the other towns to become like the Kano metropolis in order to avoid migration from rural areas to Kano city, but has not been realised since then.
The majority leader, Lawan Dala, representing Dala constituency, further explained that, historically, the Kano emirate long existed since after the Jihad of Uthman Danfodio under one Emir of Kano.
He said the age-old cultural history which survived colonial domination and was recognised by Nigerian convention remained a very veritable tool for social cohesion and stability, contributing to order, peace and good governance in its support to modern democratic institutions.
However, he said, the creation of the additional emirates had distorted and upturned histories, causing disharmony and undermining the prestige and authority of the emirate system, hence the need for the former order to be restored, preserved and protected as it traditionally and historically existed as one emirate and one people.
The House agreed to establish a new law that will create second class emirs in the state.
Action Retrogressive – Kano APC state lawmakers
While expressing their grievances in a chat with journalists at the Assembly complex, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) described the acts as retrogressive.
Hon Salisu Muhammad, member representing Doguwa constituency (APC), said as members of the House they were supposed to concentrate on governance and what to deliver to the people and not revisiting the issue of emirate.
He, however, expressed the hope that this new turn of events will be tied to the tenure of this current administration and called on the people of the state to remain calm.