Background

• Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (CON) (Muhammadu Sanusi II) was born on 31 July 1961. He is the 14th Emir of Kano, who was crowned on 8 June 2014 after the death of his granduncle, Ado Bayero (who died on 6 June 2014). The Emir’s appointment made him the country’s second-highest authority in the Muslim North after the Sultan of Sokoto. His appointment came amidst protests as many believed it was politically motivated. Emir Sanusi was a banker and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
• On Wednesday 8th of May, 2019, the Kano State House of Assembly passed a Bill known as the Emirs’ Appointment and Deposition Amendment Bill 2019.
• Same day, the Governor of Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje passed the Bill into Law, about eight hours after it was passed by the Kano State House of Assembly.
• The effect of the Law is the decentralisation of the Kano Emirate Council, thereby breaking same into five Emirates – Gaya, Rano, Karaye, Bichi and Kano.
• The new Emirates will now be headed by Emirs who are hitherto traditional rulers to be elevated to the status of first-class emirs.
• The current Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, now has control over only one of the Emirates, that is, Kano. His control over the State’s 40 Local Government Areas stands reduced to 10.
• Governor Ganduje made it known that details concerning the kingmakers will be made known soon and that all all other processes and procedures will be completed for appointing respective emirs, issuing them with appointment letters up to the stage of coronation.
• A tradition of hundreds of years has now met an abrupt end.

Why was the Emir of Kano diluted?

From the information available, the following are the major reasons for this development:

1) The desire to bring the traditional institution of the Kano Emirate Council as a whole closer to the people, in order to serve them better. This is believed, to be the popular wish of the people.

2) The craving for hastened growth and development of the State. According to the Governor, there will be more concentration on health, education, employment and other important sectors of the society, including dispute, and community conflict resolutions, among others.

Beyond the two reasons identified above, with all its innocuousness, findings revealed other reasons behind the scenes:

3) Sanusi’s unpopular stands regarding certain affairs of the North, generally, was a problem. For instance, the Emir has been highly critical of the poverty-stricken condition of the North (and of course, Nigeria generally). His views on no polygamy for the poor also have not been particularly welcomed. The highly respected Islamic scholar has been accused of going against tradition and has been despised for his ‘attack’ on northern leaders for their conservative Islamic values.

4) Partisan politics and alleged disaffection between the Emir of Kano and Governor Ganduje – The Emir of Kano has been critical of the development policy of the current administration in Kano State. More so, there is the allegation that he has been meddling with politics in the State and has not been in support of the Governor. The Emir’s call for free and fair election was interpreted by some as an indirect call for support for the former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso in the last election in the State. The meaning of this, if any, can only be understood from the prism of politicians.

5) Plot to oust the Emir of Kano – It has also been alleged that with the splitting of the Emirate Council into five, it would be easier to mobilize elements within the Emirate Council loyal to the Governor to present a common front in ousting the Emir of Kano. This possibility of this however would depend largely on the traditions of the Emirate and set down rules on the ousting of a sitting Emir. Presently, the Emir of Kano has also been under probe for alleged financial mismanagement in the Kano Emirate Council.

Featured Image Credit: Financial Times.