Security operatives barricade emir’s palace ahead announcement of Sanusi’s successor

Security operatives have surrounded the palace of the emir of Kano ahead of the announcement of the successor of Muhammad Sanusi who was dethroned on Monday.

Police officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps controlled movement in and out of the palace.

A palace source said Sanusi, who was removed a few hours ago, is currently making plans to move to Abuja.

The administration of Abdullahi Ganduje, the governor, had earlier removed him for “total disrespect to the office of the governor”.

The source said a chartered flight is at the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano waiting to fly him to the nation’s capital.

Security has also beefed up at the government house, Kano, where members of Ganduje’s cabinet are holding a meeting and also at the state assembly where crisis broke out ahead of the emir’s removal.

Hamisu Chidari, deputy speaker and chairman of the public complaints and petition committee, had raised observation over the investigation of petition of alleged violation of culture, tradition and religious values of the people of Kano by Sanusi.

Trouble broke out some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the assembly shouted Chidari down.

In the process, a heated debate ensued which resulted into exchanges of blows as the opposition members struggled to take control of the mace.

The fisticuffs lasted for about 20 minutes before the house normalcy was restored and plenary went on a 30-minute break.

The government of Ganduje had cited disrespecting the office of the governor and refusal to follow laid down instruction as reasons for the removal of Sanusi.