Emirship tussle: Kwankwaso’s comment against FG is his personal opinion, says NNPP founder

Boniface Aniebonam, the founder of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), says the party does not support the allegation that the federal government is instigating a crisis in Kano.

Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NNPP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, accused the federal government on Monday of attempting to create a new breed of Boko Haram terrorists in Kano.

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

However, in a reaction on Thursday, Aniebonam said Kwankwaso’s comments on the crisis in Kano were his opinion.

Aniebonam noted that the party’s position on the emirate tussle has been that it is an internal cultural issue concerning the people of Kano state.

Aniebonam said the “heavy and unfounded allegations” against the federal government are condemnable, noting that they could trigger a crisis in the state.

He said Kwankwaso had been expelled from the party, adding that the former governor did not speak for the NNPP.

“Kwankwaso has long been expelled from the NNPP, and so his allegations are personal and not the stand of our party,” NAN quoted Aniebonam as saying.

“We firmly believe that the federal government can wade into the matter if it may lead to the loss of lives and property of citizens living in Kano state.

“But making such an allegation without proof is, in our estimation, tantamount to incitement, and we totally disagree with that.

“As a political party that is peace-loving, we refuse to be dragged into the emirate tussle crisis despite being the ruling party in Kano state.

“We also will not be dragged into unsubstantiated allegations against the Federal Government.”

Aniebonam urged Abba Yusuf, the governor of Kano, to maintain peace and respect in the state.

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In May, the Kano state assembly repealed the law that was used to unseat Sanusi.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