KANO, NIGERIA – The Kano State House of Assembly has initiated the process to amend the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, responding to growing calls for the reinstatement of the deposed 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi.
The move to amend the law was set in motion during a plenary session on Tuesday, following a motion by the Majority Leader, Hussien Dala, who represents the Dala constituency.
The current law was first amended in 2019 amidst a conflict between then-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Emir Sanusi. The amendment led to the division of the Kano emirate into five distinct emirates: Kano, Rano, Karaye, Gaya, and Bichi, each with its own First Class Emir. This restructuring ultimately resulted in the deposition of Emir Sanusi.
Following the electoral victory of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who campaigned on the promise to restore the old Kano Emirate system, several groups have renewed calls for the reinstatement of Emir Sanusi. One month before Governor Yusuf assumed office, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and a key figure in Kano politics, indicated that the issue of the emirates would be reviewed.
During his campaign, Kwankwaso remarked, “We campaigned and we are well-known in Nigeria, especially in Kano. What we showed the people is by God’s grace all the good projects we started when we were in government. This governor (Abba Kabir Yusuf) and his team will pick up from where we left off.”
Kwankwaso further emphasized the commitment to revisiting the emirate structure, stating, “We as elders in the movement will continue to advise them to do things that are proper. We tried not to talk about whether the Emir would be removed or not, but now you see, the opportunity is there.”
He acknowledged the complexities faced by the incoming administration, saying, “Those who God made leaders will now decide on the next step and decision to take. They will review it and determine what is the right thing to be done. Apart from the issue of changing the emir, the emirates have now been divided into five. All of that will be reviewed too.”
Kwankwaso expressed confidence in Governor Yusuf’s ability to tackle the challenges, adding, “We are confident God will give the governor (Abba Kabir Yusuf) the wisdom to come and resolve the challenges planted in Kano state so that everyone will live peacefully in Kano state.”
As the legislative process unfolds, the future of the Kano Emirate system remains a significant point of interest and debate among the residents and political observers in Kano State.