Four Years After Dethronement, Sanusi Reinstated As Emir of Kano

Muhammadu Sanusi II has been reinstated as Emir of Kano. 

All five emirs appointed by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje are to vacate their seats within the next 48 hours and submit all properties within their care to the commissioner of Local Governments. 

The new amended law of the State House of Assembly had ordered Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to take all necessary measures to restore the status of the Kano Emirate System to its position prior to the enactment of the repealed Principal Law dated 5th December, 2019, which Governor Abba Yusuf duly complied with and announced Sanusi as Emir. 

The House which passed the bill on Thursday, dissolved the five Emirates created by former Governor Ganduje, namely, Bichi, Rano, Gaya, Karaye as well as the Kano Emirate.

The majority leader of the House Lawal Chediyar Yangurasa, and a member representing Dala Constituency, sought the approval of the lawmakers to recall the laws for amendment.

The law was first amended in 2019 amidst tension between the then Governor Ganduje and Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, which led to the fragmentation of the  Kano Emirate into five distinct emirates.

Subsequently, the former Governor, dethroned Sanusi and split the Kano Emirate into five, thereby appointed new first class Emirs.

Following the victory of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) in 2023 elections, the political godfather to the current Governor, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, said the new government would definitely review the dethronement and balkanisation of the Kano Emirate.

The amendment by the Assembly came in the wake of speculations making the rounds in the state on wether or not Governor Yusuf would reverse the fragmentation of the old Kano Emirate and return it to the status quo.

Under the repealed law, “All traditional office holders and title holders elevated or appointed to office created under the repealed Principal law, dated 5th December, 2019 shall revert to their position, where such positions previously existed under recognized custom and traditions prior to the enactment of the repealed Principal Law dated 5th December, 2019.”

However, the new law mandated the Governor to take all necessary measures to restore the status of the Kano Emirate System to its positions prior to the enactment of the repealed Principal Law dated 5th December, 2019.

“The Commissioner responsible for Local Government shall oversee all transitional arrangements including how best to deal with assets and liabilities of the abolished emirates and new structure created under the repealed Principal Law dated 5th December, 2019.” The repealed law stated.

According to the 2019 amended law, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the dethroned Emir was only in control of 8 local governments councils, out of the 44 in the State, would now revert to his former position as the Wambai of Kano.

Apart from Bayero who was said to have been on an official trip outside the State, the location of other dethroned Emirs were not ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

The four king makers in Kano who doubled as district heads were said to have been summoned by the state government to reinstate Sanusi as the Emir.

Some residents of Kano, mostly supporters of Emir Sanusi, burst into jubilation, in expectation of his arrival to lead Friday prayer and be reinstated as the new Emir of the State.

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

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