Things just got tighter for President Goodluck Jonathan: former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (SLS), is a potential candidate to be the next emir of Kano after the death of Alhaji Ado Bayero.
Kano is considered strategic in the 2015 presidential election ─ in which Jonathan is expected to run ─ because of its voting population.
Even 25% of Kano’s 5.1 million registered voters ─ second only to Lagos’ 6.2 million ─ could make a significant contribution to the overall score of a presidential candidate.
With Lagos not currently considered a good hunting ground for Jonathan, Kano ─ already an uphill task for the president, despite former governor Ibrahim Shekarau’s defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ─ could become more hostile with Sanusi as emir.
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The state governor, Malam Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is a sworn opponent of Jonathan and was one of the five governors who left the PDP ─ to which the president belongs ─ for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in November last year.
With the death of Bayero on Friday morning after 50 years on the throne, Sanusi is clearly a contender to replace him.
The other strong contender is Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero, the Ciroman Kano, who, as the first son of Bayero, is often addressed as the Crown Prince.
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He was born on April 1, 1956 and is older than the former CBN governor by five years.
The late Bayero was believed to be sympathetic to Jonathan and not on good terms with Kwankwaso. His palace was attacked by a mob who accused him of “selling out” after Jonathan was declared the winner of the 2011 presidential election.
The power to appoint Bayero’s successor lies with Kwankwaso, based on the recommendation of the kingmakers.
Sanusi, the only CBN governor to engage a Nigerian president in an open confrontation, was suspended in February after writing a controversial letter to Jonathan to draw attention to billions of dollars that had not been accounted for by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
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He is still in court to challenge his suspension although a new governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has assumed office.
Sanusi has openly said he would like to be the emir of Kano “one day” and once told journalists that his decision to study Arabic and Islamic studies at a Sudanese university was part of his preparations for the throne.
His grandfather, Muhammadu Sanusi, was emir of Kano from 1953-1963. He was the eldest brother of the emir who just died.
Sanusi was deposed in 1963 after falling out with his distant cousin, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, who was the premier of the old northern region.
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Sanusi’s replacement, Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa, lasted only three months before his death, and Bayero was enthroned.
The former CBN governor, who is close to Kwankwaso, is married to one of Bayero’s daughters.
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Bayero conferred Sanusi with the traditional title of Dan Majen Kano in 2012.
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20 comments
This is shoddy journalism as usual. Kano may have the “highest” electoral votes due to the political abradacabra of the serial Northern military regimes in Nigeria, but the Emir of Kano is not the sole or even significant political power in Kano. Jonathan only needs 25% of Kano votes, and he will easily get it.
In Lagos, it must be the height of foolhardiness for a journalist to claim that the State is not friendly to Jonathan. Yes, it may be an APC governed state, but the Governor was installed by the votes of Jonathan’s friends and he knows it. The Igbos make up at least 40% of the Lagos voting public and will determine who becomes Governor if they vote on block basis as they will in 2015. The South/South have at least 25% of the voting population. Therefore Jonathan is already guaranteed at least 65% of Lagos votes. Add the Christians and moderate Yoruba Moslems and what I see is a landslide !! What thype of journalism is this ?
You also conveniently forgot that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s grandfather was deposed for stealing State funds , a crime that his grandson is likely to face in the very near future. Jonathan must be crying tears of joy into his flutes of Crystal champagne as his enemies, by their actions and inactions, deliver a second term to him on a platter of electoral landslide.
Good one joe boy, whose ox is gored by sanusi’s enthronement? Even the kwankaso may follow suit and take a title, jona is not bothered. Only God can stop jonathan
JoeBoy, you are exactly right on Jonathan’s chances in Lagos and Kano.
But I will add that it is Kano state, instead, that will be in a sticky situation, if Sanusi emerges the Emir of Kano.
PDP can never rule/win Lagos and if they do d president must have been a Yoruba man
Read this: ‘The former CBN governor, who is close to Kwankwaso, is married to one of Bayero’s daughters.’ I am confused. Is Sanusi Lamido Sanusi married to his uncle’s daughter? I mean, is he married to his niece? Pls someone should come to my aid.
As far as English grammar is concerned, the statement is correct. It means Sanusi is married to Bayero’s daughter. Your uncles daughter is cousin not niece.
Yes Sanusi is married to his cousin. It is very popular and very common in Hausaland. Islam is not against this, also.
COUSIN ! Not NIECE
@ken. Ur. ignorance about Islam ethics n moral values is what makes u see it not right, couple wt ur tribal coloratn of such union as a terboo.but mind u d immediate decendnd of Adam n Eve practice such n wc u r product of.However Islam forbid marryn ur sister,half sister,maternal n paternal anties,daugthrs of ur brothra n sisters, etc.but d daugthrs of ur paternal n maternal uncle n anties are allowd etc. Mind u those tribe that forbd such have bn infested wt havn kids from such out of wed luck.sleepn n playin wt thm all d time claimn notn is happnn while alot had happen.I personally witness ths in benue.
It is a common practice among the Fulani people.
Two brothers of different mothers can marry their daughter to their son respectfully.
It is also a common practice to inter-marry within the same clan or blood line.
It had been like that for ages.
An emir can even marry his own daughter to his brother’s son, unannounced, the new bridegroom must not complain but just become the husband of the girl he shared the same household with since birth.
It is the culture.
Your culture doesn’t necessarily have to be the same with others culture.
A culture’s food, is another culture;s poison.
Sanusi will bcome the emir and become untouchable..gbam!
Lol! Pls JoeBoy know Kano before speaking. The traditional leaders of Kano, are closer to the people than any political icon, even Buhari. Go and read why Ojukwu arrested or rather “kidnapped” the late emir at the wake of the 1966 military coup.
It is actually allowed in my tradition. However, for me, I will not do that. I feel it is wrong.
In addition, making SLS next emir does not Jonathan a dime. Kano’s population is only over exagerrated. I am sure igbos population is up to 15% same for the south south. Mind u, in Lagos also. Christians r more than moslems so I do not c any opposition except APC brings forth a Niger Delta/Igbo/west. Afterall take away sentiment, Buhari/IBB/Abacha/obasanjo did not achieve more than Jonathan but cos Jonathan is too democratic, he allowed freedom of speech beyound measure. During Obasanjos regine, EFCc goes after any1 dat opposes him but dis we have not seen in Jonathan. Although I will not vote him in 2015, I will vote a northern candidate. But he has not done badly
Yes that is the custom of the royal house in kano so that the title will not go out.
Kingmaker shd pls forget any nagetive setiment n select a person of highly integrity.SLS on top
Though, the next emir is likely to be former cbn governor, but it can never have any adverse effect on Jonathan in 2015 election.
u spoke as an objective analyst. If all shares your ideology then surely we will practice politics without bitterness.
Please care that late Emir was a human being of substance we have just lost. let us join his family to mourn him at least for a short while before we engage in the political consequncies of his demise.
Muhammad sunusi is d grandfather of sunusi lamido sunusi. Muhammad sunusi is an elder brother of ado bayero
authomatically Goodluck Jonathan has eventualy lose Kano, Lagos, even Edo state, thereof the most population; But for you to know that Jonathan is in power using that oportunity to rig ellection, that is why he is trying to stop the poeple in APC.