SLS named new emir of Kano

After a lot of speculations on the social media, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has been named the 14th Fulani emir of Kano.

In an announcement made this afternoon by the Kano State government, the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was picked to replace Alhaji Ado Bayero, who died last Friday.

Sanusi was picked ahead of the late emir’s son, Alhaji Lamido Sanusi Ado Bayero, the Chiroman Kano, who was also a firm favourite.

There had been rumours all over the media that Bayero was the choice, misleading the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to issue a congratulatory message to him. The party later withdrew the message.

The candidates were nominated by the four kingmakers of the emirate: Madakin Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Nabahani; Sarkin Bai, Alhaji Muktari Adnan; Sarkin Dawaki mai tuta, Alhaji Bello Abubakar; and Makaman Kano, Alhaji Abdullahi Sarki Ibrahim.

Although not unexpected, Sanusi’s ascension to the throne is bound to ruffle feathers in Aso Rock with the history between the new emir and President Goodluck Jonathan who suspended him as CBN governor in February.

Sanusi’s close friend and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Nasir el-Rufai, tweeted: “BREAKING: Alhamdulillah. The best man has won. SLS is the Emir of Kano. Jonathanians can go jump in the lagoon.”

A state government official told TheCable that Sanusi was “the natural choice”.

“He has done a lot for Kano. He is an international figure whose presence on the throne can attract a lot of development to Kano,” he said.

The official also said given the relationship between the late emir and Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, it was “practically impossible” for Bayero’s son to be appointed.

“The late emir was very close to the former governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. Kwankwaso and Bayero had a cat-and-mouse relationship. It was further worsened by Bayero’s soft spot for Jonathan and you know Kwankwaso wants to run in 2015, so he is not friends with the president,” he said.

Sanusi enjoys a good relationship with Kwankwaso and was believed to have helped Kano “a lot” while he was CBN governor.

TheCable had tipped Sanusi as the likely successor of Bayero after the emir’s death on Friday, June 6.