Criticisms of Northern leaders, alleged insurbordination… issues that fuelled Emir Sanusi’s removal
By Adetayo Opeyemi
On Monday morning, the Kano Emirate witnessed a new twist in the political tussle between the governor of Kano, Governor Umar Ganduje and the Emir, Sanusi Lamido Lamido.
Ganduje, had in a shocking move, announced dethronement of the Emir in a statement, consequent upon the decision made by the State Council which was presided over by the governor.
The State Council had accused the Emir of serious misconduct, adding the move the move was taken to “safeguard of sanctity, culture, tradition, religion and prestige of the Kano Emirate’’.
“The Emir of Kano is in total disrespect to lawful instructions from the office of the state Governor and other lawful authorities, including his persistent refusal to attend official meetings and programmes organized by the Government without any lawful justification which amount to total insubordination,’’ the statement adds.
It was reported that the dethroned Emir was moved out of the palace by security officials and whisked to an unidentified place in Nasarrawa.
Few hours after Sanusi’s dethronement, Ganduje approved the appointment of Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero as the 15th Emir of Kano in the ruling Fulani dynasty.
The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, confirmed Bayero’s appointment in a statement.
The statement reead: “I have been directed by his Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje following the resolution of the state Executive Council and recommendation by Kano Kingmakers to announce the appointment of Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero as the new Emir of Kano.
“In my capacity as the Secretary to the state government, I have been directed by sections 11 subsection 1 of Kano state Emirate Council law 2019 to announce the appointment of Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the former emir of Bichi as the 15th Emir of Kano in the ruling Fulani dynasty.”
Why Sanusi’s dethronement came as rude shock to some, those who have been monitoring the political atmosphere in Kano State would be less perturbed by the development.
It’s no gainsaying that there has been no love lost between the Emir and Ganduje for a while now. In the first place, the Emir’s perceived opposition to Ganduje’s second term bid was one of the issues that fuelled his removal.
Recall that the governor had following the incident, reduced the influence of the Emir by decentralising his powers. Such move has been followed by a corruption probe of the Emir by the state government.
Another factor that facilitated Sanusi’s removal was his ceaseless criticisms of Northern elders. The Emir has been vociferous in his campaign against traditional causes of widespread poverty that has become the signature feature of the northern part of Nigeria.
He has also spearheaded discussions around polygamy and the Almajiri system — two deeply ingrained issues — in the northern part of the country with a view to bringing about a system overhaul. The Emir had on numerous occasions argued such practices contribute to the economic and social backwardness of the Northern part of the country.
Such views fetched the Emir several oppositions from northern elites — who have for long being benefitting from the extant system.
