Atiku: Dethroned Emir couldn’t have returned to palace without FG’s backing

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says the federal government should be held responsible if there is a breakdown of law and order in Kano.

Abubakar was reacting to the tussle over the emirship in Kano.

Aminu Bayero was replaced as Emir of Kano by Muhammadu Sanusi on Friday.

Sanusi was deposed in 2020 after falling out with Abdullahi Ganduje, the governor of Kano at the time.

On Thursday, the Kano house of assembly repealed the 2019 law used to oust Sanusi and balkanise the emirate into five jurisdictions.

The new emirate law stipulated the sack of all the emirs in the jurisdictions and a restoration of the old order.

Only one Emir will now be overseeing all of Kano.

Abba Yusuf, the governor of Kano, had given the sacked monarchs 48 hours to vacate their palaces.

The emirs of Bichi, Rano, Karaye, and Gaya have complied with the directive.

Early Saturday morning, Bayero returned to the city and then moved into a palace in Nassarawa LGA of the state.

A squad of soldiers that had been protecting Bayero before he was dethroned rode with him from the airport to the palace.

The governor ordered Bayero’s arrest after the deposed monarch arrived in Kano to a hero’s welcome from a horde of his supporters.

Aminu Gwarzo, Kano deputy governor, had blamed Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), for allegedly facilitating the return of Bayero to the palace by providing him with two private jets — but the NSA denied the claim.

Commenting on the development in a statement issued by Paul Ibe, his media adviser, Abubakar alleged that the deposed Emir could not have returned to  Kano without the backing of the federal government.

“It is surprising that Bayero backed by federal might, made his way into the Nasarawa Palace of the Kano Emirate while the reappointed Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, was at the Gidan Dabo, which is the main residence of the Emir of Kano,” the statement reads.

“In this wise, the former Emir could not have made his way into the Nasarawa Palace without the support of the Federal Government, having done so with the support of the Army and other security personnel in his company.

“The deployment of soldiers in extra-constitutional matters, such as this, undermines the integrity of the Nigerian military.

“We need to remind the Tinubu administration that Kano State is known for peace and harmony spanning thousands of years, and any attempt to destabilise the peace of the Land of Commerce shall be resisted.

“Recall that when Muhammadu Sanusi II was dethroned on 9th March 2020, Kano forged on in peace without any fracas.

“We wish to state unequivocally that if for any reason, law and order breaks down in Kano State, particularly Kano Municipal, the Federal Government should be held responsible, as the act of providing security cover to the former Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero to come back to Kano is an invitation to anarchy.”