Emirship tussle: FG listening to enemies of Kano, says Kwankwaso

Rabiu Kwankwaso, presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 election, has accused the federal government of compromising security in Kano.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony for the construction of 82 kilometres of rural road networks in Madobi, his hometown, the former Kano governor said the federal government is listening to some “unpatriotic politicians” from the state.

Kwankwaso, a former minister of defence, was reacting to the ongoing situation in Kano where security agencies have been accused of backing Aminu Ado Bayero, the deposed emir.

Kwankwaso said the people of Kano would resist any attempt to undermine the constituted authority in the state.

“We have mass followership because people believe in us; we are pro-people and the NNPP administration is determined to serve them anywhere they vote for it,” Kwankwaso said.

“We will not fold our arms and watch enemies of the state destroying the peaceful co-existence of our dear state, as we shall do everything possible to support the governor to succeed. I am happy that he is not distracted and is focused on achieving his goals.

“There are people from Kano, enemies of the state, who also suffer mental illness and are the ones advising the Federal Government on how to take over Kano through a State of Emergency. This is madness of the highest order that the good, peace loving and committed people of Kano will resist.

“In the build-ups to 2027, some desperate politicians are already on a mission of disruption, but we will rather prefer the two of us to lose than to allow them to crush us unnecessarily.

“We dare anybody, who thinks he can victimise us politically, to be rest assured that we are ready for the fight.

“We are not afraid to be out of power because we will remain politicians in or out of government. We cannot run away from our destiny; we are humans; we know what is good for us and we will pursue it vigorously.

“We are open to dialogue, truce and reconciliation, but we will not accept intimidation and political harassment of any sort. We know how to play politics and we have all it takes to protect ourselves from any evil.”

BACKGROUND

Sanusi became the 14th Emir of Kano in 2014 after the death of Ado Bayero. He was turbaned during Kwankwaso’s administration. 

However, Sanusi was dethroned in 2020 by Abdullahi Ganduje, Kwankwaso’s successor, over allegations of insubordination.

Aminu Bayero, son of the late Bayero and Emir of Bichi, was installed as Sanusi’s replacement, while Kano was balkanised into five emirates. 

In May, the Kano state assembly repealed the law which was used to unseat Sanusi.

Consequently, Abba Yusuf, Kano governor, announced the reinstatement of Sanusi as emir after signing the new Kano Emirate Council Law.

Hours later, a federal high court in Kano ordered the state government not to enforce the Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024.

But Sanusi was turbaned as the 16th Emir of Kano.

Bayero returned to the Nassarawa palace in the state and the governor ordered for his arrest. But a detachment of soldiers has been keeping watch over him.

Usaini Gumel, commissioner of police in Kano, said security agencies would obey the court order on Sanusi’s reinstatement.

Amid the controversy, Bayero’s supporters took to the streets to protest the dethronement.

The Kano government said the protests in some parts of the state were the handiwork of politicians who wanted to create chaos.