SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI: THE RUMOURED RETURN OF THE BANISHED KING

By Austen Akhagbeme

Just exactly four years and a month plus ago, HRH Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the 14th Fulani Emir of Kano who ruled for five years, six months and twenty-six days on the throne of his forebears, was deposed in controversial circumstances that bothered on politics and vendetta.

The reasons adduced by the then government of former Governor Ganduje, was that of corruption and “mismanagement” of the revered traditional stool by Emir Sanusi 11. But those who were acquainted with the mutually suspicious relationship between the throne and the state government, knew that there was something more opaque, lurking in the dark.

But the superiority of state power over that of the Emirate, succeeded in sending the vocal but regal traditional ruler packing, as he was banished to Lafia in Nassarawa State while the Emirate remained balkanized into five autonomous parts. His Uncle, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero took over his stead.

Recent events which saw to the passage of the repeal bill, abolishing the Emirate council law by the Kano State House of Assembly, which effectively dissolve the five Emirates created by the former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in 2019 while returning to the old single emirate system, has sparked off conversation in the public space.

The five Emirates, said to have been maliciously created by Governor Ganduje which includes Bichi, Rano, Gaya, Karaye and Kano, by virtue of this landmark decision of the State House of Assembly, has been dissolved and the offices created by the repealed law have been set aside. The Law now authorize the Governor to call on the Kingmakers to choose a new Emir as they’re no longer legally active Emirs in the five Emirates.

The rumour is now rife, whether or not this move by the Kano State House of Assembly is not a grand design, orchestrated to bring back the deposed HRH Sanusi 11, as a political vendetta by the new NNPP government of Engr Abba “Gidan-Gida” Kabir Yusuf, against the former APC led government of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

The political rivalry between these ace Kano politicians, Engr Kwankwaso and Alh Ganduje and their political parties, and their knack to undo each other at every given opportunity is well known and palpable in Kano.

While many are of the opinion that this rivalry should not be taken too far to desecrate the revered traditional stool while endangering peace among citizens of the state, others think that the onus is on this NNPP led government to right the wrongful balkanization of an hitherto coherent and age-long Emirate of Kano by a government desiring to get even at her avowed critic.

The question on the lips of every political watcher of Kano politics is whether or not HRH Sanusi 11 will be the eventual choice of the Kingmakers, to replace the leadership void created by this landmark decision of the state house of assembly or not.

Again, will this bring peace, Justice and development to Kano State or will it usher in chaos and an endless change of musical chairs that will always be dancing to the whims and caprices of the Government of the day? We’re all waiting with bated breath.