Kano government: Reinstatement of Sanusi was done in best interest of state

The Kano government says Muhammadu Sanusi was reinstated as the Emir of Kano in the best interest of the state.

In a statement on Monday, Baba Dantiye, Kano state commissioner for information, said some political elements are using false narratives to incite chaos in the state.

THE CONTROVERSY 

Sanusi was reinstated as Emir on Friday by Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, at a colourful ceremony in the government house.

The Kano house of assembly repealed the law that Abdullahi Ganduje, the former governor of the state, used to depose and exile Sanusi in 2020.

The repeal paved the way for the reinstatement of Sanusi and the dethronement of Aminu Bayero as Emir of Kano.

On May 23, a federal high court in Kano ordered the state government not to enforce the Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024.

Despite his dethronement, Bayero returned to Kano on Saturday from a trip to Ogun and moved into a palace in Nassarawa LGA.

However, the governor ordered Bayero’s arrest “for creating tension in the state”.

A detachment of soldiers has been keeping watch over the Nassarawa palace since the arrest order.

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

Amid the controversy, supporters of Bayero took to the streets to protest his dethronement.

‘SOME POLITICAL ELEMENTS ARE DRIVEN BY SELFISH INTEREST’

Reacting to the development, Dantiye said media reports on the protest in the state were “grossly exaggerated”, adding that there was no widespread protest.

The commissioner said some hired thugs planned to destabilise the state amid the emirship for the “personal gain and selfish interest of their paymasters”.

“Contrary to media reports, there have been no widespread violent protests in Kano state,” the statement reads.

“While the government is aware of isolated incidents in few areas by a handful of small children and hired miscreants and thugs, these do not in any way reflect the overall situation.

“These hired unpatriotic individuals were only aiming to destabilize the state for the personal gain and selfish interests of their paymasters.

“The great majority of Kano state’s citizens have shown remarkable restraint and understanding of the sincere action of the state government.

“It also behoves to reiterate that the decision by the administration of Abba Kabir Yusuf to legally abrogate the emirates and reinstate the 14th Emir of Kano State was made after careful consideration of the best interests of the state.

“The move has been welcomed by a significant portion of the populace who understands and cherishes the long-term benefits of a unified emirate structure.”