For the reinstated Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, May 23, 2024 will go down as one of his most eventful days. From the wilderness of exile and humiliation, the cerebral former central banker has made a massive comeback. Like a cat with nine lives, he has triumphed over the many machinations of his traducers, who kicked him off the pinnacle of the traditional rulership of Kano. It was a battle in which history and courage were put to test; it was a fight in which the Emir had to choose between speaking the truth to power or remaining silent in the face of injustice and oppression.
Emir Sanusi chose the former, and paid the price. But he is seemingly having the last laugh; his arch enemy, former Governor Umar Abdullahi Ganduje will be watching as the Emir reascends the throne in Kano. But the bigger question is: will this be the last that would be heard of the politics-heavy face off, which has affected the stability of the Kano Emirates? If Governor Abba Yusuf and the New Nigeria Peoples Party political machine, which propelled Emir Sanusi back to the throne are no longer the powers that be in Kano, will the Emirates return back to the state of musical chairs?
These are some of the questions agitating close observers as the developments in Kano unfold. This may even be one of the considerations, which made Emir Sanusi II, the 14th Emir of Kano, to recall that over the years, he has had his own fair share of controversies. He made the comment at Rivers Economic and Investment Summit in Port Harcourt, Rivers State from where the news of his reinstatement filtered across the country.
Sanusi, who was the keynote speaker at the event, said when Governor Siminalayi Fubara invited him, his schedule was tight but he chose to honour the invitation, out of the respect for the governor and the people of Rivers.
His words: “When I received the invitation from His Excellency to come and serve as the keynote speaker at the maiden Rivers State Economic and Investment Summit, my diary was filed with a lot of programmes both locally and internationally.”
“I also had a bit of apprehension about coming to speak at a public forum such as this. Because sometimes, it doesn’t matter what we say about the problems or truthfulness of the solutions we try to proffer on reconfiguring the economy for the benefit of all. Sometimes misinterpretation and sensationalism become the aftermath of the speech more than the success. I’m sure we all agree that I have had my fair share of controversy.
“This misrepresentation sometimes makes this cause a matter of controversy rather than a solution. However, honour begets honour and I regard the invitation of His Excellency as an absolute honour and thar’s why I am here. Also honouring Rivers State is for me hououring one of my best friends, Herbert Wigwe.”
The summit is Sanusi’s first public appearance since the news of the move to reinstate to the throne broke. The Explainer had reported how the Kano Assembly repealed the law which ex-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje used to dethrone Sanusi in 2020.
Shortly after, Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, went into a closed-door meeting with the members of the state assembly and some traditional leaders believed to be kingmakers at the Government House in Kano. The governor later assented to the bill earlier passed on Thursday by the Kano State House of Assembly which reversed the creation of new Emirates by the then Governor Abdullahi Ganduje administration.
With the assent Kano’s controversial, cerebral and flamboyant 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was deposed in March 2020 returned triumphantly to the throne. The fate of Sanusi’s successor, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, is, however, unknown as of press time.
Emir Ado Bayero is said to be currently out of town after he paid a courtesy call on Oba Sikiru Adetona, Awujale of Ijebuland, on Wednesday. Sanusi, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was appointed as the 14th Emir of Kano in June 2014 by the administration of former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, with Ganduje as deputy governor of the state before the latter eventually became governor in May 2015.
As Kano emir, Sanusi fell out with the Ganduje administration over his outspoken nature. He was deposed in March 2020 after the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law was promulgated by the Ganduje administration in 2019, and four additional emirates were created – Rano, Karaye, Gaya, Bichi.
The then state government said he was removed “to safeguard the sanctity, culture, tradition, religion and prestige of the Kano emirate,” accusing the emir of “total disrespect” of institutions and the governor’s office. But Sanusi’s supporters believed he was ousted for opposing Ganduje’s re-election in 2019.
Upon securing a second term mandate, Ganduje split the Kano emirate into five and appointed four more emirs – to weaken Sanusi’s influence. Five years after his controversial removal as emir, the Kano State House of Assembly resolved to amend the law after Majority Leader Hussien Dala moved the motion during plenary.
“The need to revisit the Emirs Law has become imperative to address the issues that have arisen from the 2019 amendment. We must ensure that our traditional institutions are governed by laws that reflect fairness and justice,” Dala said.
On his part, the Speaker of the Kano House of Assembly, Jibril Isma’il Falgore, promised to ensure that the process of amendment follows due process and transparency. The law that booted Sanusi from office is known as the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law. It was promulgated in 2019 by the Ganduje administration after having a running battle with the deposed emir.
Now, the parliament is controlled by the opposition New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Earlier, NNPP 2023 presidential candidate (Kwankwaso) pledged that the issue of Sanusi’s sack would be revisited. Kwankwaso, the political mentor of current Kano governor, Yusuf controls the north-west state known for its huge voting population. Historians and culture enthusiasts who have long advocated less disruption of centuries-old traditional institutions would be hoping another game of musical chairs will not happen again with the Kano Emirates.
