Kano Emirship Stool: Sanusi returns to Palace amid court injunction

• Governor Yusuf Presents Letter Of Reappointment
• Says Ex parte Order Dead On Arrival
• You Have Repeated History After 1,000 Years – Sanusi

It was a moment of jubilation yesterday in Kano State yesterday as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf officially issued Muhammadu Sanusi II with a letter of appointment affirming him as the 16th Fulani Emir of Ibrahim Dabo clan.

The African House at the Kano State Government House, venue of the event, was filled with personalities including members of diplomatic corps, traditional and religious rulers, government functionaries and well wishers, drawn from far and near, who came to witness the historic moment.

The state House of Assembly had last Thursday passed a bill that repealed the Kano State Emirate Council Law, 2019. Tagged Kano Emirate Council (2024) Law, the Assembly abolished the entire five emirates created in 2019 and sacked the first class chiefs appointed by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Essentially, the repeal law reversed all actions elicited by the provisions of the Emirate Council Law, 2019, including the demotion of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero to district head and traditional titleholder of Wambai Kano.

Presenting the appointment letter to Sanusi, Yusuf explained that his return to the ancestral throne was deliberately intended to correct the needless balkanisation of the traditional institution and the victimisation meted out to him.

While congratulating Sanusi for his return, Yusuf reminded the new emir of the enormous challenges before him, stressing that the credibility and proven integrity of the former CBN governor to deliver on people’s high expectations were not in doubt.

“Before signing the bill into law, I met with the Kingmakers, security agencies and members of the House of Assembly. We had a fruitful discussion. We did that out of our conviction that Sanusi was wrongly removed in 2020 and needlessly victimized; hence I have signed the law to correct the wrong. It has become a law nobody can change,” he said.

Reacting to the order of the Federal High Court that restrained the implementation of the new Kano Emirate Council (Repeal) 2024 Law, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, dismissed the merit of the injunction.

The ex parte injunction obtained by a member of Kano Emirate Council and former holder of Sarkin Dawa Babba traditional title, Aminu Babba Dan’Agundi, stopped the Kano State government from reinstalling Sanusi.

However, Yusuf argued that the injunction was granted after action had been completed, wondering how a competent court would grant injunction under questionable circumstances.

“For the record, I assented to the repealed law at exactly 5.05pm on Thursday and you were all witness to the historic moment here in the Government House. Subsequently, we heard about a court injunction in the early hours of today, Friday, only to find out the order was granted at 2am.

“We are prepared for whoever is behind the illegality in the judiciary and would go any length to defend our constitutional powers. The law of the land has vested powers on us to enact law and to sign it. We have carried out the same responsibility strictly in accordance with the law. Let no one keep you in doubt,” the governor insisted.

Shortly after receiving the letter of appointment, Sanusi pledged to reunite the Ibrahim Dabo royal clan, just as he emphasised zero grudges against any member of the royalty.

Sanusi reminded Yusuf that he has repeated the second history of reinstatement of an emir in Northern Nigeria after the first episode that occurred about 1,000 years ago.

The new emir warned against political infiltration into traditional institutions, adding that the 44 local councils of the state may soon produce their own emirs if political interests were not checked.

Former governor Ganduje sacked Sanusi in April 2020, accusing him of insubordination and disobedience to government actions.

Sanusi, known for his social criticisms and analysis of government policies, had on several occasions condemned Ganduje’s economic policies, especially the moves to borrow USSD$1.8 million for construction of a light intercity rail.

In 2019, he was alleged to have involved himself in the general election by galvanising resources to ensure the victory of Kwankwaso’s candidate against Ganduje.

Although Ganduje was able to scale through the hurdle, Sanusi’s deposition from the palace was allegedly orchestrated by Ganduje to pay him back.