The Governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje is insisting on relegating the Emir of Kano Lamido Sanusi II by the creation of four new emirates after a high court had annulled a similar move for lack of due process.
Ganduje, on Monday, sent a fresh bill to the State House of Assembly to create four new emirates in Kano as the first bill suffered a setback because it was presented to the Assembly by a private person and not a member of the House.
Ganduje’s Spokesperson, Muhammad Garba revealed that some of the emirates annulled by the court existed before the Kano emirate, and thus the government’s move was to revive the emirates after the failed attempt by previous regimes.
Kano State Executive Council approved the Emirate Council Bill 2019 which provides for the establishment of additional Emirates in the state. The four new emirates are: Rano, Gaya, Bichi and Karaye.
Despite reservations from Kano residents, the government called on the state Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Bill in the interest of the public.
GANDUJE VS SANUSI
Although reconciliation move was brokered by a committee of Aliko Dangote and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, two-term Governor of Kano State, Ganduje and Emir, Sanusi II remain at loggerheads. This rift is reportedly not unconnected with the near loss Ganduje almost suffered in 2019 governorship election in the state.
Sanusi reportedly backed Abba Kabir- Yusuf of the People’s Democratic Party against the Ganduje who was running for a second term under the All Progressives Congress.
It was alleged that Sanusi’s influence made Ganduje lose the election at the first ballot. The election was declared ‘inconclusive’ by INEC and a second ballot saw Ganduje winning with a margin of 8,982 votes.
A Kano-based group, the Renaissance Coalition, also alleged plans by the Kano State government to remove Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II from Kano Emirate. The group claimed that Governor Ganduje was plotting to post Sanusi to Bichi Emirate.
The Kano state government public complains and anti-corruption commission similarly revived a probe which was halted in 2017 into the Emir alleging that Kano Emirate council misappropriated the sum of N3.4billion on Sanusi’s watch “without the approval of the state government”.
More:
–New Emirates: Kano Kingmakers Hire 7 SANS to Tackle Ganduje
–Why I Won’t Reverse Creation of New Emirates – Ganduje
–How Emir Sanusi’s Children Reacted to Creation of New Emirates
The Emir debunked the claims and insisted he only inherited N1.8Billion from the emirate council.
It will be recalled that Sanusi became Emir soon after he was suspended by then President Goodluck Jonathan as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on allegations bordering on mismanagement of finances.
KANO EMIRATE
The Kano Emirate is a traditional state in Northern Nigeria, Kano State. The Emirate council was formed in 1903 after the British pacification of the Sokoto Caliphate. The first emir was Ado Bayero in 1963; He reigned for 50 years until his death in 2014. Muhammadu Sanusi II was then crowned Emir on June 8, 2014, after the death of his grand-uncle Ado Bayero.
PhotoCredit: Daily Trust
The size of the emirate under Muhammadu Sanusi II was the 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kano.
On 8th May 2019, Governor Ganduje signed a bill submitted to him by the Kano State House of Assembly. The bill would reduce the influence of Emir Sanusi and create new first-class emirates and Emirs in the Northwestern State.
With the bill becoming Law, Kano state will have five emirates with equal powers and Sanusi’s emirate will cover only 10 local governments namely: Kano Municipal, Tarauni, Dala, Nasarawa, Fagge, Gwale, Kumbotso, Ungogo, Dawakin Kudu and Minjibir.
Kano and Rano emirates will control 10 local governments each, with Gaya, Karaye and Bichi controlling eight, seven and nine local government areas respectively.
