Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje has signed into law the bill passed by the Kano State House of Assembly which creates four new emirates  out of the existing and long-standing Kano Emirate.

This implies that Kano State now has five emirates namely Kano, Rano, Gaya, Karaye and Bichi .It also implies that the powers and influence of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Lamido Sanusi have been dramatically reduced.

The development has not come to critical Nigerian observers as a surprise. Indeed they are agreed that the move is Ganduje’s way of paying back Sanusi for often criticizing his style of governance. Sanusi is also believed to have tacitly supported the Peoples Democratic Party at the last general elections instead of the ruling All Progressives Congress to which Ganduje belongs.

Speaking while signing the bill in the presence of the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Kabiru Rurum and other lawmakers, Ganduje said :

“Traditional institution will now go closer to the people . We are about to make history today, and in the Holy Month of Ramadan.

“King makers will be known very soon. So also all other processes and procedures will be completed for appointing respective emirs, issuing them with appointment letters up to the coronation stage.

“In the areas of education, health, environment, traditional institution is indeed partner in progress. With this development therefore, all hands will be on deck to take Kano to the next level.”

The throne of the Emir of Kano is one of the most respected traditional institutions in Africa. Over the years however, it has suffered its fair share of political interference and tribulations.

Today, any keen observer of the Kano situation would tell you that the splitting of Sanusi’s kingdom may not be the end of the travails of the erudite economist and former governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank. He may well be close to being shown the way out of the palace altogether.