How Ganduje’s counter coup neutralised plot to stop new emirates

A swift and hurried counter coup stopped what may have been a plot by Emir Muhammed Sanusi (II)’s loyalists to prevent the decimation of his emirate into five.
It was gathered that a prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President had been briefed to go to court to get an injunction to stop the Kano House of Assembly Bill from being signed into law.
Unfortunately for the emir, who is said to have travelled out, the plot leaked; and the State governor, Abdulahi Umar Ganduje, quickly signed the bill into law to the plmeasure of its advocates.
It is not yet known what new card the emir’s supporters will play as the beneficiaries of the new law continue to gloat over their political victory.
The wide powers and domain of the Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi (II) have, again, been diminished with the signing into law by Governor Abdulahi Umar Ganduje, of a bill that splits the emirate into five.
Nearly two decades ago, five Emirates were carved out of Kano with the creation of Jigawa State. They included Dutse, Ringim, Gumel, Kazaure and Hadejia.
The new emirates to be created out of the existing Kano under the new law signed by the Governor on Tuesday are Rano, Karaye, Bichi and Gaya
Nigeria Everyday reports that many fear that the carving out of the new emirates is a step to dethroning former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi, over his support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last gubernatorial election in the State.
Shortly after the re-election of Ganduje, his supporters proceeded to pull down Sanusi’s posters in the city, raising suspicions of an unfolding agenda to demystify and disgrace the prominent emir.
An earlier move to remove the Emir was stopped on account of pressures on the Governor, who allegedly took exception to his administration and the federal one being often criticised by the loquacious royal father. He suspended action on the investigation of the Emir for alleged misappropriation of funds.
That investigation has been resuscitated.
The Kano State House of Assembly (KNHA), has approved the amendment of the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs law, paving way for the decentralisation of the Kano Emirate council.
The bill, known as Kano Emirs Appointment and Deposition Amendment Bill 2019 was promptly signed into law by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
It allows for the creation of four more first class emirs councils.
The assembly embarked on its earlier plans to amend the law following a petition filed before the house by Ibrahim Chambas.
The petitioner demanded for the upgrading of some traditional rulers to the status of 1st class emirs.
Chambas in the petition sought for the creation of the four additional 1st class emirate councils in Karaye, Bichi, Rano and Gaya.
According to the petition, the establishment of the emirate councils will bring more development to the people of the area.
NAN also reports that the committee earlier set up by the assembly to look into the issue of reviewing the law presented its report before the legislators on Tuesday.
Reading the joint committees report before the floor of the house on Tuesday, the majority leader, Alhaji Baffa Danagundi, said the report also recommended the review of the law.
According to him, the decision followed wide consultation with stakeholders, adding that the feedback the committee received from the public, massively supported the upgrade of those emirate councils.
He said the response received clearly showed that the need to upgrade the traditional rulers was necessary.
According to Danagundi, the law if signed into law by the Governor of the state, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the emirate council, except Bichi, will have their own kingmakers.
He explained that the Bichi emirate council would have its Kingmakers from the old emirate council, Gidan Dabo in particular.
According to Danagundi, the creation of the new first class emirs would bring more job opportunities, boost the economy, and ensure security of the state.
Governor Ganduje, who spoke immediately after signing the bill into law, said “this is what the people of Kano State want.
“This will encourage active and deeper participation of people of Kano State especially in the rural communities in the affairs of the state.
“It will also encourage active participation of traditional rulers in the areas of agriculture, education, health and security.”
The governor also said that there was need to upgrade the traditional rulers based on their historical antecedents so that aspirations and dreams of their forefathers would come true.
Ganduje added that all other processes for the take off of the new emirates would be completed while letters of appointment and dates of Coronation of the new first class emirs would be fixed.