Kano Emirs in royal drama at Police College graduation

From Anuoluwa Onuwunyi, Kano
Hours after a drama by four new Kano emirs and Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, at the passing out parade of graduates of the Police College Wudil, Kano State attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, the State Government had dropped a bombshell that it has a request to remove Sanusi as emir.
According to an eyewitness, Sanusi had arrived the event after the Emirs of Bichi, Karaye, Gaya and Rano arrived but did not sit with them as the seat reserved for him was elsewhere. He also did not acknowledge their presence as he acted as if they were not around.
Again, when the event ended, it was only Sanusi that accompanied Buhari to his car and watched him leave. The other emirs merely stayed a few meters away. No one observed if President Buhari acknowledged the presence of the other emirs at the event.
Incidentally, this is the first time they are meeting together at an official engagement of this nature so they could not avoid themselves.
As if the drama at the event was not enough the spokesman of Umaru Ganduje, the Kano Governor, Mr. Abba Anwar, said the government has received a request from some civil society organisations (CSOs) to remove Sanusi as emir.
According to him, Ganduje received the letter from a coalition of 35 civil society groups urging him to, in the interest of protecting the sanctity of the rule of law, and the mandate given to him by Kano electorate start the process of dethroning the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
In their letter titled “Kano State Emirate Council Law, 2019 : Demand Letter”, the groups under the aegis of Umbrella of Kano Concerned Civil Society Groups said they have observed the drama between the state government and the Kano emir.
The statement adds, “Reminding specifically that, matters that arose from the aftermath of Kano State High Court decision nullifying the Kano State Emirate Council Law, that was enacted by the State House of Assembly, which eventually paved way for the enactment of another Law, creating additional 4 First Class Emirates, which also empowers the Governor to take disciplinary measures against any erring emir, “…should be effected,” according to the letter.
“The letter was signed by Comrade Ibrahim Ali, Chairman of the Coalition, which continues that, “Soon afterwards, the same Law which repeals all the existing Emirate Councils Laws, and consolidates it in the Kano State Emirate Council Law 2019, was again been challenged first by the purportedly 5 kingmakers from one of the 5 Emirates established by the said law.”
“The letter lamented that, even the “…second litigation was initiated by the so-called Kano State Elders who indulged their group in their understanding that, the Law was aimed at distorting 1000 years of heritage or thereafter of Kano.”
“After narrating all the disagreed areas in the letter, the group demands that, “That the action of the Emir of Kano Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II of continued undermining the constituted authority of the government of Kano State and its organs, is not only unconstitutional, but is an effort to create a state within a state. Which no responsible leadership will tolerate and allow to remain unabated.”
“After dismissing the “Kano Elders” claim in making reference to “1000 years of heritage” the group deems it to say that that position was diversionary and only an attempt to derail from the reality, “…that the so-called elders making reference to 1000 years old heritage are completely derailing from the reality.”
“They suggested that “With the recent decision of Kano State High Court, His Excellency shall proceed and ensure the full take-off of the Council of Emirs in the State. So as to stop the current distraction and generation of controversy.”
“The letter seeks that, “If the Emir of Kano fails to submit to the authority of the government of Kano State, we call on the Governor of Kano State on the strongest term, to act strictly in accordance with the provision of Kano Emirate Council Law 2019 in order to heed the state forward.”
“They concluded that they hope their demands and recommendations get the governor’s attention, noting and further necessary action, as provided by the Law establishing all the 4 Emirates in the state.”
Recall that following disagreements that arose from the splitting of Kano Emirate into five, giving Sanusi jurisdiction over only eight out of the 44 he previously controlled, supporters of Sanusi went to court and stopped the government’s action over procedural errors.
However, the government recreated the Emirates, following the procedure this time.
Ganduje is believed to have created the four new emirates to spite Sanusi for taking sides with his former boss and predecessor, Senator Kwankwaso of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who supported that party’s candidate against Ganduje in last February’s election.