- Monarch, Kwankwasia Youth Support Group Plea For Pardon
By Charles Adingupu
For most Nigerians, Muhammadu Sanusi known by the religious title, Khalifa Sanusi 11 is a man of many parts. A consummate banker who rose to the pinnacle of his profession upon his appointment as the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
That position, puts him in public glare as he consistently reiterated the near total collapsed of most government policies that were rendered barren due to unbridled corruption perpetrated by cabinet ministers, lawmakers and other lieutenants of government who, rather ensured the viability of such well orchestrated policies were busy feasting on the collective patrimony of Nigerians
For his forthrightness, Sanusi 11 becomes controversial in the nation’s political space, undeterred by the disposition of his perceived adversaries towards his hardline stance on issues bothering on economic development, Sanusi never relent on drumming it to the hearing of the international community that corruption has remained an impediment to Nigeria’s economic growth and development.
Tired of beating the drum with no one dancing to the rhythm, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi retired from public service to become the Emir of Kano.
He succeeded his great Uncle, Ado Bayero to the throne on 8 June, 2014.
Despite the royal blood that flows in his veins, Sanusi 11 spent most of his reign, shouting at the rooftop, the worsening cases of corruption that have almost crippled the Nigerian state.
At one point, the 14th Emir of Kano, Sanusi 11 alerted that the federal government populist stance was hurting the nation, noting that paying millions of dollars in subsidy without appropriation was enough to impeach a President.
Against this backdrop, the Emir had persistently reiterated in different fora that Nigeria as a nation was living on extra time.
At the regional level, Sanusi spent the better days of his reign, advocating for cultural reforms in Northern Nigeria.
For all these, Sanusi 11 became a target of political emasculation as he could not survive the bullet fired by the Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje who accused him of official rascality and gross insubordination to constituted authority.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Usman Alhaji who made the announcement, said the Emir of Kano Sanusi 11 was dethroned over what he described as disrespect of lawful instructions from Governor Ganduje and other lawful authorities.
Other reasons advanced for his dethronement included his refusal to attend official meetings and programmes organised by the government which amount to insubordination.
The government further disclosed that the decision to derobe the then Emir was to safeguard the sanctity, cultural, tradition, religion and prestige of Kano Emirate built over a thousand years.
For all these offences, Sanusi 11 was on the 9 March, 2020 evicted from the palace after a brief house arrest, and was bundled to Abuja, subsequently exiled to Nassarawa State.
His dethronement has triggered reactions as the Kano State Assembly was thrown into a rowdy session.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had described his dethronement and subsequent banishment as sad and undeserved.
Despite the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja which declared the banishment of the deposed Emir of Kano as unlawful and unconstitutional, Governor Ganduje of Kano State was adamant.
The desposition of the Governor, once again confirm that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi 11 was indeed a victim of political witch-hunt designed as target for public mockery.
Hence, the calls by the traditional ruler of Adamawa state, Mustapha Tahir and Kwankwasia Youth Support Group for the reinstatement of the deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi 11.
The calls were made by the Monarch and the group shortly after their congratulatory visits to the Governor Elect of Kano State, Abba Yusuf who won the election under the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP.
The duo urged the Governor Elect to as a matter of expediency look into the dethronement of the Emir, led by the All Progressives Congress, APC government of Ganduje.
The duo further stated that as the spiritual leader of a prominent religious body, the Tyannijah Sufi Order of Nigeria, Mahammadu Sanusi 11 deserves a second chance.
However, the journey of Sanusi 11 back to the exulted throne of the Emir of Kano has just begun. If the Governor Elect hackens to the voice of the people, that would begin another chapter in the history of Kano Emirate.
