The Kano State House of Assembly has officially dissolved the four newly established emirate councils in the state. The decision was reached during a plenary session on Thursday, following extensive deliberations.
The dissolution came after the Kano State Emirates Council Amendment Bill passed both its second and third readings on Thursday morning. Deputy Speaker Muhammad Butu emphasized that repealing the law would help restore the historical prestige of Kano, which had been diminished by the division of the original Kano emirate into five separate entities.
Majority Leader Alhaji Lawan Dala supported the amendment, stating that the creation of the additional emirates had distorted the cultural heritage preserved by the traditional emirate council.
With the amendment, the four newly created emirate councils have been abolished, leaving only the Kano Emirate intact. Additionally, the House adopted a motion to establish a new second-class emirate council in the state.
This legislative move could potentially lead to the reinstatement of the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II. In January 2024, former Kano governor and Kwankwasiyya movement leader, Sen. Rabi’u Kwankwaso, indicated that the issue of the Kano emirates would be revisited.
Former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje had previously divided the Kano emirate into five and deposed Emir Sanusi II. Following the New Nigerian Peoples Party’s victory in the recent elections, Kwankwaso announced that the administration of Abba Kabir Yusuf would review the previous emirate restructuring and the dethronement of Sanusi II.
Kwankwaso remarked, “The Kano Emirates issue is one of the matters that will be addressed. We will determine whether the changes will be allowed to stand, be dismantled, corrected, or otherwise. It will be revisited, and necessary actions will be taken.”
He further asserted that the initial restructuring was carried out with ill intentions, which were evident to the public and stakeholders.