Kano Govt reinstates Sanusi as Emir —— As Court Stops Reinstatement immediately

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on Thursday reappointed Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano, four years after he was dethroned by a former Governor of the state, Umar Ganduje.

In addition, the governor deposed five emirs appointed by Ganduje and gave them a 48-hour ultimatum to vacate their official residences and palaces.

He also directed them to hand over all affairs to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

The New Nigeria Peoples Party-controlled Kano House of Assembly repealed the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law on Thursday, paving the way for the abolishment of the emirates and changes introduced by the law under Ganduje.

Governor Yusuf signed the repeal bill into law at a ceremony attended by the principal officers of the state assembly and other top officials and covered live by the media.

Born July 31, 1961, Sanusi has long been a prominent figure in the nation’s socio-political and economic landscape.

Before ascending the throne, Sanusi had a distinguished career in banking, culminating in his appointment as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2009.

Sanusi, the spiritual leader of the Tijanniyah Sufi order of Nigeria, began his reign on June 8, 2014, as the 14th Emir of Kano, succeeding his great-uncle, Ado Bayero.

He was appointed emir by former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso less than four months after his removal as the CBN governor by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He had fallen out with Jonathan after accusing his administration of corruption five years into his tenure as CBN governor.

Ganduje’s govt

In 2017, the relationship between the monarch and Ganduje, who succeeded Kwankwaso, became frosty after Sanusi accused the government of mismanagement and corruption, particularly about the state’s debts.

The disagreement between the two escalated in 2019, and the Kano State government created four additional emirates, reducing the powers of the emir.

Sanusi challenged the creation of the emirates in court, arguing that it was politically motivated and designed to weaken his position as emir.

He was subsequently removed from his position by the state government and sent into exile, citing insubordination and disrespect to the governor and other officials.

The development sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from various quarters.

Following his deposition, Sanusi relocated to Lagos and then to Abuja, where he continued to engage in intellectual discourse, policy advocacy, and philanthropic activities.

However, in March 2020, a Kano State High Court ruled that the emirate councils were legally created.

Despite his physical absence from Kano, his influence and support base remained robust, with many advocating for his return.

In 2023, the Federal High Court ruled in his favour, declaring his deposition and exile unconstitutional, setting the stage for his potential return.

Sanusi is being expected in the ancient city ahead of his reinstatement.

In the run-up to Sanusi’s restoration, the Kano State House of Assembly Thursday repealed the law which established five emirates in the state.

The repealed law, known as the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, had created Rano, Karaye, Gaya, and Bichi Emirates in addition to Kano.

The law’s repeal means that the newly created emirates have been dissolved, consolidating the Kano Emirate once again under a single ruler.

The repealed bill states: “All offices created in the newly created five emirates under the repealed principal law, dated 5th December 2019, are hereby abrogated. All appointments made under the said repealed Principal Law dated 5th December 2019, are hereby set aside.”