- Says Gov Abba Yusuf followed Constitutional process in Reinstating Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano
- Accuses FG of Breaching Nigeria’s Constitutional order by Aiding Return of Dethroned Ado Bayero
By Abiola Olawale
A former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has broken silence on the ongoing emirate tussle in Kano state, cautioning the Federal government against triggering chains of reactions that could bring about anarchy in Kano state.
This is as the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accused the Federal Government of allegedly interfering in the ongoing emirate tussle in Kano state.
According to him, the Federal Government is allegedly supporting the deposed Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero in his unsuccessful attempt to usurp the throne and cause tension in the state.
In a statement issued on Saturday, May 25, Atiku stated that the Kano State House of Assembly’s action in passing the amended Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024 is by Section 4 of the Constitution 1999 as Amended followed due constitutional procedure as required.
He added that the subsequent action of the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, in signing the bill into law, is also in line with his constitutional responsibilities.
He wondered why the Federal Government allegedly backed Bayero to return to Kano State and also allegedly deployed soldiers to protect him, saying that such action could destabilise the state.
He said: “The action of the Federal Government in deploying soldiers in Kano in the tussle over the throne of the ancient city is an upset to the peace and security of the state, and also in breach of the 1999 Constitution as Amended.
“The law therefore repealed the 2019 version which balkanized the ancient Kano Emirate into five.
“The foregoing circumstances happened within the confines of the law and in compliance with the powers conferred on the Governor as provided by Section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended; and also in consultation with the Kingmakers of Kano, reappointed Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (also known as Muhammadu Sanusi II) as the 16th Emir of Kano State and accordingly handed him a letter of appointment.
“It is surprising that in the early hours of today, exactly at about 5:30 am, the former Emir of Kano, His Majesty Aminu Ado Bayero backed by Federal might, made their way into the Nasarawa Palace of the Kano Emirate while the reappointed Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II was at the Gidan Dabo, which is the main residence of the Emir of Kano.
“In this wise, the former Emir could not have made his way into the Nasarawa Palace without the support of the Federal Government, having done so with the support of the Army and other security personnel in his company.
“The deployment of soldiers in extra-constitutional matters such as this undermines the integrity of the Nigerian military.
“We need to remind the Tinubu administration that Kano State is known for peace and harmony spanning thousands of years and any attempt to destabilise the peace of the Land of Commerce shall be resisted.”
The New Diplomat reports that on June 9, 2014, Sanusi was crowned the 14th Emir of Kano.
Following a disagreement between Sanusi and the immediate past Governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje, the monarch on June 6, 2019, was queried for allegedly misappropriating the sum of N3.4 billion, an allegation the former bank chief had since denied.
However, the statement by Sanusi wasn’t enough for Ganduje as the latter in December 2019 assented to a bill passed by the Kano House of Assembly splitting the Kano Emirate Council into five emirates, whittling down the influence of the monarch.
On March 9, 2020, the Ganduje administration consequently dethroned Sanusi for ‘disrespecting lawful instructions’. The former Governor subsequently appointed Bayero as the 15th Emir of Kano.
