Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Kano State, on Monday dismissed suggestion that Lamido Sanusi, could return to power as Emir of Kano, three years after he was dethroned and banished by his government, saying even God would not allow such an outcome.
What began as a disagreement, after Sanusi, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), began criticising his government, led to first, the splitting of the ancient kingdom, when the governor, in 2019, Ganduje signed a law creating four additional emirates in the state.
After that the former banker was not only left with control of 10 out of 44 local government areas, but months later, the governor, who had earlier appointed Aminu Ado Bayero of Bichi, Ibrahim Abubakar II of Karaye, Tafida Abubakar of Rano, and Ibrahim Abdulkadir of Gaya, went after for the total onslaught.
In March 2020, the governor, succeeded in not only dethroning outspoken monarch, but actually banished him to Nasarawa State, citing “total disrespect to lawful instructions from the office of the governor.”
However, hints that the action could be reversed, came last Saturday, when former Governor and Ganduje’s predecessor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, suggested that the incoming administration in the state, of Abba Yusuf, would revisit the matter, in order to resolve “challenges” in the state.
But reacting to the suggestion, Ganduje, who would be exiting office in three week’s time, assured that the new emirates had come to stay adding that there had been tremendous progress in the state since the decision to carve out the new kingdoms.
Ganduje, who spoke on the occasion of the 2023 Workers’ Day at Sani Abacha stadium, Kano, maintained that the creation of the emirates was to foster unity and development in the state, added: “Any of you that visits the headquarters of these new emirates will believe me that we have brought development to these places.
“These emirates were created for unity, progress, and history, and also for the recovery of the reputation of the traditional institutions. We created them to honour the people of these regions. I want to assure you that these emirates are permanent, they have come to stay. And anybody that will destroy them, God almighty will not bring him to Kano state. We assure you that these emirates were created because of you, because of your progress. Even if we are not in government, we are praying and we will keep praying for God to protect these emirates from all evils. I thank you all.”
