Group rejects agitation for dissolution of new emirates

Centre warns against amendment of chieftaincy laws
Rakidu Development Association of Rano-Kibiya-Bunkure, Kano State, has appealed to the state government to jettison calls to dissolve the additional four emirate councils in the state.

Although the community-based group was silent on whether the government should consider the clamour for the reinstatement of the 14th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, it urged the government not to extend political vendetta to the emirates.

Prior to the appeal, several Kano-based groups had written to the House of Assembly to consider a review of the emirate council laws and reinstatement of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi.

The intent, clearly stated by the interested parties, was dissolution of the four emirates: including Gaya, Rano, Bichi and Karaye.

Addressing journalists, yesterday, in Kano, leader of the group, Wali Rano, said the dissolution would rather aggravate the challenge faced by the emirates.

He stated: “In the exercise of our collective freedom of expression, we organised this conference to emphasise our position on the sustainability of our emirates. We should make it clear that sustaining these emirates has the aspiration of the vast majority of our area.”

Rano noted that upgrade of traditional rulers was not strange in Nigeria, adding that promoting the village heads to district or district heads to emirs had been a continuous right from the Fulani Jihad to the present.

“We are very sure the governor will, no doubt, not listen to those people calling for the dissolution of our emirates because people from our emirates voted for him and did not listen to his opponents whose campaign was not to elect him,” the convener noted.

SIMILARLY, Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER) has raised the alarm over a purported plan to tinker with the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Law in Kano to favour the 14th Emir, Sanusi.

The Centre, at a briefing, yesterday, also alleged that some elements were taking illegal means to reverse the law, not minding the consequences on the state.

In his address, the Executive Director, CALSER, Ben Amodu, said some members of the House of Assembly were being induced and coerced into entertaining the ‘dangerous’ plot.

He added that the end-game was to have Governor Abba Yusuf speedily assent to the amendment and hurriedly reinstate Sanusi.

“At CALSER, we have multiple concerns. First, what becomes of the current emirs of Rano, Karaye, Bichi and Gaya, whose deposition the hatchers of this plot are indirectly calling for? It is on record that there is no infraction found against any of them, so the promoters of this plot have to honestly answer this question.”

“They also have to explain how the government should manage the outrage and protests that will come from the subjects of these emirs, as they have become accustomed to the leadership they provide,” he added.