Two Emirs, one kingdom as confusion, anxiety still pervade Kano

The brewing tension in Kano State over the emirship stool may soon escalate, as the deposed Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, defied the 48-hour ultimatum to vacate the Gidan Rumfa palace and returned to Kano yesterday.
 
About 24 hours after he was deposed as 15th emir, Bayero stormed the ancient city in a private aircraft through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with full military cover at exactly 5.05am yesterday. 
 
In a statement, the spokesperson to the governor, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, claimed that the former emir was smuggled into Kano in an attempt to forcefully return to the palace two days after he was deposed by the governor.
 
“It was confirmed that the new emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, arrived at the palace in the company of the governor, the deputy governor, the Speaker of the State Assembly, and other top government functionaries at about 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2024.
 
“As the Chief Security Officer of the state, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest the deposed Emir with immediate effect for disturbing public peace and attempting to destroy the relative peace the state enjoys,” Tofa noted.  
 
Governor Yusuf had issued a reappointment letter to former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammadu Sanusi II, as 16th emir of Kano after assenting to the Emirate Council Law, 2024, which sacked Bayero and four other first class emirs established by the administration of the former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.  
 
The controversy started after the state governor, alongside top government functionaries, accompanied Sanusi to the palace around 1.05am last Friday. Apparently suspecting a move by the deposed emir to return to Kano and move into the Gidan Rumfa palace, Governor Yusuf chose to keep vigil at the palace despite pressures on him to leave.  
 
Unofficial sources revealed that Bayero was brought back with military protection to return to the palace as substantive emir following a court order restraining the implementation of the new Emirate Council (Repeal) 2024 Law.  
 
Yusuf had dismissed the injunction purportedly obtained from Justice Abdullahi. M Liman, who was reportedly in the United States when the order was granted. The Commissioner of Police in Kano, Mohammed Usaini Gumel, however, vowed to ensure full compliance with the order. 
 
Addressing journalists earlier at the Police Headquarters, Kano, the CP, who led a joint security team including the heads of military, Director Department of State Services (DSS) and other paramilitary services, insisted that the contending parties in the emirship tussle must maintain the status quo until the hearing and determination of the matter. 
 
According to the CP, there was a court order with suit no. FHC/KN/CD/182/2024 dated May 23, 2024, issued by the Federal High Court, calling on all parties to maintain the status quo until June 3 when the case would be heard and determined. 
 
“We are calling on members of the public to know that the police in the state are working together with the military and other security agencies to provide adequate security to everyone in line with our statutory mandate. 
 
“Let me remind you that the position of the law is very clear as whoever under whatever guise is found to be planning to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in Kano will be dealt with,” the CP warned. 
 
Despite the earlier directive by the governor to the police to arrest deposed emir Bayero for attempting to provoke crisis in Kano, the CP in his response maintained that “the command is not under pressure to carry out any directive of the governor.”
 
After the media briefing, the joint security chiefs met with dethroned emir Bayero, who was relocated to Nassarawa palace, one of the emirate council’s resting palace along State Road, for a closed door meeting. 
 
The security chiefs subsequently met with Governor Yusuf at Gidan Rumfa palace, the traditional palace of Kano emir for another closed door discussion. The outcomes of the meetings with the two personalities were not disclosed.
 
However, the state government has accused the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, of orchestrating moves to use federal might to forcefully return Bayero back to the palace.  
 
Deputy Governor Aminu Abdulsalam told journalists at the emir’s palace yesterday that the state government would not be intimidated by any force to reverse its position on Sanusi. 
 
As the tussle rages, the forum of Islamic clergy in Kano has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on any move that could lead to a breakdown of law and order in the state. 
 
In a petition undersigned by 18 members of the Ulama, and made available to journalists in Kano, the Ulama insisted that it was imperative for the President to take all necessary steps to maintain peace in the state.
 
They maintained that while it is within the purview of the State House of Assembly to enact laws for good governance, the state government needs the cooperation and support of the Federal Government. 
 
“The State Assembly amended the Kano State Emirates Law and the governor assented. One person took the case to court that the law violates his fundamental human rights. He is entitled to his rights. 
 
“Kano State is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria despite its political complexity. The recent happenings in the emirate, if not carefully handled, could escalate and degenerate into chaos. 
 
“The state governor also has responsibility as the Chief Executive of the state as the act in question has already been completed. Therefore, there is no need for violent enforcement of any order or violent resistance to it, and we vehemently oppose any measures that will bring escalation of conflict in the state,” they said.
 
The statement further read: “Mr. President as the leader of the nation should not allow the contest for a royal stool to degenerate to violence. We are calling on Mr. President to allow the people of Kano State to resolve these issues amicably without use of any force and loss of lives.   “Kano State is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria, therefore we the undersigned call on both contending parties to use civil means in resolving their differences to allow peace to reign in the state.  
 
“As major stakeholders in the state, we want to assure Mr. President that we shall reach out to contenders. May the Almighty Allah bring peace and prosperity to our nation as a whole.”
 
Those that signed the petition are Shaykh Abdullahi Uwais LimanciAda,  Shaykh Ibrahim Khalil, Shaykh Abdulwahab Abdallah, Shaykh Nasir Adam, Shaykh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa and Shaykh Bashir Tijani Usman. 
 
Others are Shaykh Sukraij Salgha, Khalifah Tuhami Shaykh Atiku, Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, Khalifah Hassan Shaykh Sani Kafinga, Shaykh Abba Adam Koki, Shaykh Ibrahim Shehu MaihulaMaihula and Professor Muhammad Babangida.  
 
Also included are Muhammad, Shaykh Jamil al Qadiri Shaykh Ali Abdulkadir Abdulkadir, Dr. Abdulmutallib Ahmad Muhammad, Dr. Khidir Bashir Abdulhamid and Shaykh Aminu Adam.
 
Meanwhile, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned what he called extra constitutional action of the Federal Government in deploying soldiers allegedly against the Kano State government and in support of Bayero.
 
He noted that the action of the Federal Government in deploying soldiers in Kano in the tussle over the throne of the ancient city is an upset to the peace and security of the state, and also in breach of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
 
Atiku noted that the Kano State House of Assembly, in performing their constitutional duties of law making, passed the amended Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024 in consonance with the provision of Section 4 of the Constitution 1999 as Amended  whereas the state governor subsequently signed it into law.
   
“The law, therefore, repealed the 2019 version, which balkanised the ancient Kano Emirate into five. The foregoing circumstances happened within the confines of the law and in compliance with the powers conferred on the governor as provided by Section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended; and also in consultation with the Kingmakers of Kano, reappointed Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (also known as Muhammadu Sanusi II) as the 16th Emir of Kano State and accordingly handed him a letter of appointment,” he said.
   
The former vice president, whose statement was signed by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, said, “it is surprising that in the early hours of today (yesterday), exactly at about 5:30 am, the former Emir of Kano, His Majesty Aminu Ado Bayero backed by federal might, made their way into the Nasarawa Palace of the Kano Emirate while the reappointed Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II was at the Gidan Dabo, which is the main residence of the Emir of Kano.”
 
He argued that the former emir could not have made his way into the Nassarawa Palace without the support of the Federal Government having done so with the support of the army and other security personnel in his company. 
 
“The deployment of soldiers in extra constitutional matters, such as this, undermines the integrity of the Nigerian military.” Atiku contended. He said the Tinubu administration should be reminded that Kano State is known for peace and harmony spanning thousands of years, adding that “any attempt to destabilise the peace of the Land of Commerce shall be resisted.”
   
“We wish to state unequivocally that if for any reason, law and order breaks down in Kano State, particularly Kano Municipal, the Federal Government should be held responsible as the act of providing security cover to the former emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, to come back to Kano is an invitation to anarchy,” he added.
 
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has also expressed deep concern over the ongoing tussle over the emirship stool in Kano.  CISLAC warned that the development threatens to plunge Kano State into chaos and anarchy, which could undermine the peace and stability of the broader northern Nigeria.
 
The Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, warned against any attempts to exploit the situation to declare a state of emergency in Kano State.
He stated: “Such actions are viewed as reckless and unnecessary provocations that could dismantle over 1,000 years of Kano’s political heritage.”
 
CISLAC noted that the court order, which security operatives were relying on, was issued by a judge who is currently out of the country and not in office.
 
“This situation raises significant concerns about the legitimacy and appropriateness of the court order. The reliance on what CISLAC describes as a ‘kangaroo court order’ to justify the police and other security operatives’ invasion of Kano State is deeply troubling and exacerbates tensions,” Rafsanjani said.
 
CISLAC further asserted that the state government holds the constitutional power to appoint and confirm traditional leaders, including the Emir.
 
“The attempt to usurp this power and push the state into a state of anarchy is unacceptable.  CISLAC firmly believes that the autonomy of the Kano State government in managing its traditional institutions must be respected to avoid further conflict,” he added.
 
Similarly, the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN) has described the deployment of troops in Kano as unconstitutional. It stated that deployment of troops in any operation, even by the president, is subject to the provisions of Section 217 of the constitution of Nigeria, adding that the court had severally affirmed it.

CRRAN in a statement by its President, Olu Omotayo, described the situation in the state as “unfortunate” stressing that the deployment further shows the rising wave of misuse of troops by the Federal Government in achieving unconstitutional means.
 
CRRAN said: “The federalism we operate in this country had its roots in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended). A careful look at the constitution will show that there is nowhere in the constitution where chieftaincy matters are placed on either the exclusive or concurrent legislative powers of the Federal Government.
  
“It should be noted that the office of National Security Adviser (NSA) is not a creation of law but a political office of an aide to the president. So, the deployment of troops by the NSA at the instigation of the chairman of the ruling APC, Alhaji Ganduje, is an assault on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 
 
“The courts in several decisions have stated clearly the procedure for deployment of troops by the President who has the sole authority to deploy troops in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.
 
“The deployment of the military in any operation, even by the President, is subject to the provisions of Section 217 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Court has affirmed this position of the law.”
 
The group noted that “the issue in Kano is neither an emergency nor insurrection to warrant the deployment of the military through the President and the National Assembly.”