Governor Ganduje To Dethrone Emir Sanusi, See Why

Abdullahi Ganduje, the governor of Kano State, says he has received a letter urging him to, in the interest of protecting the sanctity of the rule of law, start the process of dethroning the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.

YaahooJournalist reports that a statement by Ganduje’s spokesperson, Abba Anwar, the governor said the request was from a coalition of 35 civil society groups.

The groups, it was learned, accused Emir Sanusi of “undermining the constituted authority” and trying to “create a state within a state.”

The letter reads as thus; “The letter titled ‘Kano State Emirate Council Law, 2019: Demand Letter’ states clearly that, ‘The coalition of 35 Civil Society Groups under the above-mentioned group (UMBRELLA OF KANO CONCERNED CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS) are curiously studying the unfolding events in the running of Kano State affairs especially in recent time, as it relates to the lingering face-off between the Government of Kano State on one hand and the Emir of Kano on the other hand,’” Anwar said.

“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 afterward, 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.”

Anwar said the groups 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 governor’s spokesperson said the letter sought 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.”

Anwar added that 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.

Meanwhile, this is coming after Governor Ganduje had broken the emirates into five in May, stripping Sanusi of the control of 34 local government areas of the state.

A high court in the state in November sacked four emirs installed by the governor, nullifying the law creating additional emirates.

The governor, however, sent a fresh bill seeking the creation of four additional emirates to the state assembly and he signed the bill into law after it was passed by the lawmakers.

Governor Ganduje, thereafter, appointed Sanusi as head of Kano chiefs, citing the new emirate council law.