Kano Emirate: The intrigues and controversies of deposition

By Kayode Olaitan, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Since the formation of Kano Emirate in 1805, attempts were made twice to split the emirate. The two administrations hinged their reasons on the need to boost development in the state.

Late Abubakar Rimi, who was governor from 1979 to 1983 created five emirates out of Kano Emirate.

However, his successor, Alhaji Sabo Bakin-Zuwo reversed the creation.

Many Nigerians saw it coming, when incumbent governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, on May 8, 2019, assented to the bill passed by the Kano State House of Assembly, seeking the decentralisation of the Kano Emirate.

Ganduje justified the creation, as he claimed that it was the wish of Kano people.

He further explained that the development will allow the state to re-examine history, insisting that the emirates were created to reduce the burden on the Kano Emirate.

The new law authorised the creation of four emirates with first class emirs.

The emirates are: Rano, Karaye, Bichi and Gaya.

Irrespective of Ganduje’s claim, analysts say it was targeted at the deposed Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was believed to have a frosty political relationship with Ganduje.

Although efforts were made to stop the process of creating new emirates, all the efforts failed.

Concerned citizens of the state had earlier expressed concern about the speed in which the governor assented to the bill seeking the creation of more emirates.

Some of them weave up sentiments, recalling that in 1963, the Premier of Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, dethroned Muhammadu Sanusi I, the grandfather of Muhammadu Sanusi II.

Similarly, they recalled that former Gov. Abubakar Rimi in 1981, restricted traditional homage paid by village heads to Ado Bayero and excised some domains from his emirate.

In 1982, Rimi returned the dethroned Sanusi I to Wudil, near Kano and created four new emirates, a development critics said was designed to spite the emir.

Political analysts believe that Ganduje and the deposed emir had endured a frosty relationship for quite some time because of the deposed emir’s political views and criticisms of some of the governor’s policies and actions.

The deposed emir was accused of partisanship during the March 9, 2019 Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections in which Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won.

Outright winner did not emerge at first ballot; Ganduje polled 953,522 votes, while Alhaji Abba Kabir-Yusuf of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 1,014,353 votes

The deposed emir was then accused of supporting Kabir-Yusuf, the preferred candidate of Kwankwaso, a development many analysts believe to be the cause of the emir’s challenge.

Creating more emirates, was therefore, perceived as an attempt to reduce the powers of the emir.

The initial refusal of the deposed emir to appear before a panel that was investigating allegations of corruption against him did not go down well with the government.

Apart from this, the dethroned emir was accused of not attending state functions and official meetings, which the government said amounted to “total insubordination’’.

He was also accused of selling government property and mismanaging funds, but he secured a court order stopping the probe by the Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission.

In spite of the court order, the Kano State House of Assembly began a fresh probe of the deposed emir, and announced that the assembly received two petitions against the deposed emir.

He was accused of unethical conduct that contradicted the culture and tradition of Kano people.

The Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission had earlier submitted a report to Kano State Government recommending the suspension of the emir.

It further explained that the fresh investigation had nothing to do with alleged mismanagement of N3.4billion by the Emirate Council.

But on March 9, a letter signed by Alhaji Usman Alhaji, Secretary to Kano State Government, was addressed to Sanusi, informing him that he had been deposed from the throne of Emir of Kano by the Kano State Government.

The letter stated that the Kano State Executive Council during its meeting on March 9, approved of the action and directed the immediate removal and dethronement of Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.

The letter further stated that the decision to depose the emir was taken due to Sanusi’s alleged general “disrespect’’ to lawful instructions from the authorities.

Also, the letter stated that the decision was to safeguard the sanctity, culture, tradition, and prestige of the Kano Emirate.

Sanusi accepted his removal in good faith.

He said: “I have been on this throne for almost six years and (in charge of) our heritage. Today, the almighty Allah, who gave me the leadership, has destined to take it back.

Sanusi was `banished’ to Nasarawa State but later got his freedom via a court order, to live in a place of his choice, except Kano. He decided on Lagos.

Only time will tell, whether or not there will be another Bakin-Zuwo, to revert the action.

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