From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
With over 1,000 years of monarchy in place, Kano Emirate system stands out. It has remained the symbol of authority, a custodian of tradition and a vestige of religious values. Whoever is crowned and in whatever age and time, is awesomely revered by all and sundry.
But in the last few years, especially after the demise of the former emir, Ado Bayero, Kano’s monarchy has waxed through its high and low moments as a result of circumstances beyond its control.
It was during this period, precisely on March 9, 2020, that the institution witnessed the fall of Sarkin Muhammad Sanusi11. That dethronement, initiated by the Ganduje administration, also paved the way for the splitting of Kano Emirate Council into five smaller emirates, namely Kano, Gaya, Karaye, Rano and Bichi amid protests.
Just when the memory of the past event was fading away, a recent remark by the leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and godfather of Kano politics, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, revived interest in the monarchy.
In a viral video that shook the Internet, Kwankwaso hinted that the incoming administration of Abba Kabiru Yusuf would revisit the dethronement of Sanusi as well as look at the structure of the old Kano Emirate: “As elders, we will continue to advise them to do the right thing. We tried not to intervene in the issue of bringing or removing any emir.
“But now an opportunity has come. Those who were given the opportunity will sit down and see to the issues. They will look at what they are expected to do. Besides the emir, even the emirate has been divided into five places. All these need to be studied.”
Viewed against the backdrop that Sanusi’s deposition was partly informed by his alleged involvement in politics, tongues have started wagging that it is a matter of time before the alleged “injustice” of the past is corrected by the incoming administration.
Many observers also took note of the fact that the deposed emir recently visited the state, during which he made time to be in the company of the chieftains of the NNPP.
Also noted is the fact that Kwankwaso and outgoing Governor Abdullahi
Umar Ganduje are not best of friends. This means Kwankwaso is most likely to encourage and support any policy measure that would reverse the decision of Ganduje on the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Daily Sun gathered that the Sanusi issue has been generating concern across the state. The five monarchs of the state have been keenly watching the development. Despite the fact that they had all paid allegiance to the governor-elect, the truth is that they are not sure of what the future holds for them, said a source.
Firing back, Ganduje insisted that God would not allow anybody to destroy the five emirates created by his administration. He insisted: “These emirates have come to stay.”
He said at the Workers’ Day celebration: “Anybody that visits the headquarters of these new emirates today will believe me that we have brought development to these places.
“These emirates were created for unity, progress, history and for the recovery of the reputation of the traditional institutions. We created them to honour the people of these regions.
“I want to assure you that these emirates are permanent, they have come to stay. And anybody that will destroy them, God Almighty will not bring him to Kano State. We assure you that these emirates were created because of you, because of your progress.
“Even if we are not in government, we are praying and we will keep praying for God to protect these emirates from all evils.”
The debate on the Sanusi issue has split the state into two almost equal halves. To those who are in support, the general belief is that Sanusi ought not to have been dethroned by the Ganduje administration.
They added that the creation of many emirates within Kano had robbed the Kano Emirate Council of its position as a major power hub in Nigeria.
Those opposed to Kwankwaso’s statement cautioned the incoming administration that revisiting the Sanusi issue would raise a lot of dust. A member of civil society group, said: “Anybody who thinks that this present move will happen or be realised without a fight is just dreaming.
“There are bound to be litigations. It would take time before these litigations are settled. It may outlast the incoming government. It will divide the state, a situation which could lead to avoidable breakdown of law and order or something close to that at the expense of unity and peace.
“The best option is for the in-coming government to let the sleeping dog lie in peace. It should find other ways to appreciate or compensate, whoever they so wish to.”
Elder statesman, Tanko Yakasai, told Daily Sun: “Too many people are attaching too much meaning to Kwankwso’s statement. He is not the governor-elect. It is only when the governor-elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf, bare his mind on the topic that the matter should be taken seriously.
“As a father, I don’t know if Kwankwaso actually made the statement or not. But if he did, then I think that it is too early in the day to make such statement. There is a sitting governor and a state House of Assembly in place and the governor- elect has not been sworn in.
“The reality, and no matter how we feel about that, the reality is that in Nigeria, traditional rulers are subordinates to the state. The governor has powers to make and unmake them, no matter how powerful they may be.”
He expressed pains at the incessant depositions or reinstatements of traditional rulers in the country, an action perfected by the political class to exert authority over these rulers.
Former Head of Department, Political Science, Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Professor Kamilu Sani Fagge observed that Kwankwaso could as well be flying a kite to assess public opinion on the issue.
He maintained that the incoming administration has powers to revisit the issue if it so wished. He recalled that during the Rimi administration, the Kano Emirate was balkanised, only for the administration of Sabo Barkin Zuwo to reassign and restore the old order upon his assumption of office.
He implored the incoming administration of Abba Kabir Yusuf to be guided by fairness and justice and to consider the peace, stability and unity of the people of the state in whatever he elects to do on the subject: “We should not allow personal differences and personality differences to wade into public policy decision making.”
Sanusi was installed by the Kwankwaso administration upon the death of Ado Bayero who reigned for more than 50 years. He was picked in what was an attempt to spite Jonathan’s administration, which had had a running battle with the former CBN governor.
But Sanusi ran out of favour soon after the end of the Kwankwaso’s administration. He was accused of a number of infractions among which were his recurring criticisms of the state government and President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.