Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai is viewing the current travails of the deposed reformist Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II through a different prism, notwithstanding the extreme stance of the Kano state government as the eventuality dawned on Sanusi Monday.
In an action that was at variance with his colleague’s, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in neighbouring Kano, El-Rufai on Tuesday appointed Sanusi as vice chairman of Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA).
The appointment comes hours after the Emir, a former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria was deposed and banished to Nasarawa State by the government of his APC’s colleague, Ganduje, leaving controversy in the wake of the action.
The deposed Emir and El-Rufai are allies. Only recently, the former gave an eloquent speech as a special guest at El-Rufai’s birthday in Kaduna on 16 February, hailing the governor for investing heavily in education in the state. Sanusi’s ouster by the Ganduje-administration is something a lot of insiders see as an action that has further strained relationship between the two Governors after all mediation by El-Rufai and many northern bureaucrats, lasting several months came to a dead end Monday.
A statement from the Kaduna government House said “the appointment is part of the reconstitution of the board of KADIPA, which is statutorily chaired by the Deputy Governor, and has as internal members other senior officials of the Kaduna State Government.
“Malam Nasir El-Rufai said that Kaduna State is honoured to be able to call on the services of a man of such calibre to drive its development,’’ the statement added.
The statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Governor, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye, noted that “Kaduna State hopes to benefit from the profile, experience, intellect and networks of His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi, who before becoming Emir, had built a solid reputation in global financial circles.
“Malam Nasir El-Rufai said that Kaduna State is honoured to be able to call on the services of a man of such calibre to drive its development,’’ the statement added.
The statement which said that El-Rufai has approved the reconstitution of the board of KADIPA, further said that the agency was established in 2015, and has led the investment drive of the state and anchored implementation of the Ease of Doing Business Charter that earned Kaduna State recognition as the Number One place for doing business in Nigeria.
The New Diplomat earlier reported that a cohesive legal team of the dethroned Emir has given the Nigeria Police, the entire security agents and the Nigeria Attorney General of the Federation, a 24-hour ultimatum to immediately release the Emir and allow him reunite with his family.
The head of the legal team Abubakar Muhmud (SAN) who spoke to newsmen in Kano, Tuesday, said they have since received instructions from the Emir through his Chief of Staff to challenge the legality of the Emir’s detention and banishment.
“We are of the firm view that this action is illegal and unconstitutional. Section 35 of our constitution guarantees every citizen the right to personal liberty, and the basis for the denial of personal liberty are set out clearly in this section of the constitution and none applies to the case of the Emir Sanusi”, he added.
