Protesters besiege villa, n’assembly over reinstatement of Sanusi as Emir

Some protesters marched to the gates of the national assembly and presidential villa over the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano.

On Thursday, Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, announced the reinstatement of Sanusi as Emir after signing the new Kano Emirate Council Law.

The state assembly had repealed the law which was used to unseat Sanusi and balkanise the Kano emirate into five jurisdictions.

Even though a federal high court in Kano ordered the state government not to enforce the new law, Sanusi has since been turbaned as the 16th Emir.

Speaking with reporters during the demonstration on Friday, Abdullahi Saleh, coordinator of the Northern Nigeria Peace and Development Foundation, said Yusuf is taking these actions to “rubbish” his predecessor.

Saleh said President Bola Tinubu should intervene to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

“A lot had been going wrong in the state but the Concerned Patriots of Nigeria had thought it best to allow Kano state to sort out its thorny issues,” Saleh said.

“However, Thursday’s brash actions of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, who sacked five Emirs to reappoint Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano has awoken us to the urgency of raising the alarm about the destructive excesses of the state governor.

“Since being sworn into office, Governor Abba Yusuf has had a string of loutish acts that run like a hardened criminal’s rap sheet.

“This latest stunt of sacking five Emirs to install his acolyte was achieved by manipulating the Kano state house of assembly, which he had successfully turned into a rubber stamp for endorsing his illegal acts.

“They, alongside Governor Yusuf, have taken their desperation to an extent that could set the ancient city on fire and cause breaches in the land.

“We are here today to appeal to President Tinubu to intervene in the Kano Emirate crisis.”

See some pictures from the protest below.