By: Nurudeen Dauda
To begin with, in the second republic there was a “sour” relationship between the late highly revered Emir of Kano Alh. Ado Bayero and the late governor Alh. Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi of Kano state. On the 1st of April,1981; governor Rimi in what was alleged to be whittling down the “power” of the Emir created four new emirates of Gaya, Rano, Dutse, and Auyo and also raised the status of the then Second Class Emirs of Gumel, Hadejia, and Kazaure emirates of the Old Kano state to “First Class Status”.
In addition, governor Rimi issued a “Query” to the then Emir of Kano Alh. Ado Bayero on the 7th of April,1981.
In 1982 in his NTA Ibadan Personality Interview Programme (Speak out) with Lekan Alabi at Ogun state government House; Abeokuta, governor Rimi declared that traditional rulers are “Public servants” and threatened to remove Emir Bayero if found guilty.
In 1963, the Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, dethroned Emir Muhammadu Sanusi (I) and banished him to Azare of the present Bauchi state.
In what some people described as the “result” of the “sour” relationship between the “duo” governor Rimi in 1982 ordered the return of the dethroned Emir Muhammedu Sanusi (I) to Wudil of Kano state.
Governor Rimi of People’s Redemption Party (PRP) had a serious misunderstanding with his party leader late Malam Aminu Kano which led to the emergence of PRP the “ ‘Yan tabo” faction loyal to Malam Aminu Kano and the PRP “ ‘Yan santsi” faction loyal to governor Rimi. The Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) recognized the Malam Aminu Kano faction as the genuine PRP.
Governor Rimi moved from the PRP to the Nigerian People’s Party (NPP) in preparation for the 1983 elections. He resigned from office and was replaced as governor by his deputy, Abdu Dawakin Tofa.
Governor Rimi’s former party, the PRP fielded Alh. Sabo Aliyu Bakin Zuwa as its governoship candidate who later defeated governor Rimi of the NPP on his re-election bid.
Alh. Sabo Aliyu Bakin Zuwa of the PRP upon his assumption in office in 1983 reversed the creation of the four new emirates back to the status quo. That continued until 1991 when Jigawa state was created from Kano state from thereon Kano state remained not only the only First Class emirate , but also the only emirate in Kano state.
That situation remained for thirty-six years until in 2019 when governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state balkanized the emirate again.
On the other hand, Emir Muhammadu Sunusi (II) had a running battle with governor Ganduje of Kano state.
His trouble began in 2017 at Kaduna State Investment and Economic Summit (KADINVEST-0.2) where the Emir publically criticized the “plans”of Kano state government under governor Ganduje to obtain a loan from “China” for Kano state “Light Rail Project”.
It took the intervention of the vice president, some governors, and some powerful Nigerians including some former heads of state to stop his the then alleged dethronement over the incident.
Similarly, the Emir’s “comment” generated a serious debate within and outside the state. The then leading opposition party in Kano state ahead of the 2019 elections turned the “comment” to a “de-marketing” talking “point” against governor Ganduje’s administration using several radio stations in the state.
Another alleged trigger to the dethronement of Emir Muhammad Sanusi (II) was his “call for free and fair elections in the state” during the 2019 elections.
Some observers argued that the “call” was an “affront” on governor Ganduje’s bid to return to office and it meant he was backing former governor Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s candidate.
In what was alleged to be whittling down the power of Emir Muhammad Sanusi (II), governor Ganduje created four new emirates of Rano, Gaya, Bichi, and Karaye in 2019 before he finally dethroned Emir Muhammadu Sanusi (II) in 2020.
Governor Ganduje, however, argued that the balkanization of Kano Emirate is for its social and economic development. On his part, former governor, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in his Press statement after the dethronement of Emir Muhammad Sanusi(II) through his Principal Private Secretary (PPS), Muhammad Inuwa Ali, said: “the fears of high esteem and caliber, plus influence the Emir possesses made Ganduje jittery… We know that Ganduje always feels diminished and inferior in the presence of the Emir… We also know that Ganduje was madly obsessed with reversing everything that Sen. Kwankwaso did in the state. And we are aware, for these reasons, Gov. Ganduje was set, ab initio, to destroy the Kano Emirate. And Emir Sanusi II was marked to be the first victim…”
However, it is on record that former governor, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, had had a running battle with late Emir Alh. Ado Bayero which led to the governor’s rejection of the Emir’s choice of new Waziri of Kano, Sheikh Nasir Muhammad Nasir.
In a recent Interview granted by former governor Kwankwaso who is the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and the godfather of Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Kano State governor -elect on the dethronement of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi (II) and the balkanization of Kano Emirate hinted that: “As elders, we will continue to advise them to do the right thing.
We tried not to intervene in the issue of bringing or removing any emir, but now, an opportunity has come.
Those who have been given this opportunity will sit down and address the issues. They will look at what they are expected to do. Besides the emir, even the emirate has been divided into five places. All these need to be studied. Usually, a leader inherits good and bad issues that are hard to reconcile.”
It is apt to ask, will the in-coming government reverse the balkanization of Kano Emirate and return Emir Muhammedu Sanusi (II) or not? Only time will tell! Historically the once balkanized Old Kano Emirate was reversed as mentioned above.
On the other hand, According to Nasir Wada Khalil, a historian and researcher, there has only been one instance when an Emir of Kano was dethroned and restored.
“Kano started as a city-state in 999AD and has witnessed more than 56 traditional leaders in the status of Emir, from Habe, Kutumbi and Fulani dynasties, the latter reigning up till the present.”
However, except for when Emir Muhammadu Kukuna (1651-1652AD) was dethroned and sent to Zaria and then later re-emerged as the leader of the state for eight years and seven months in 1652AD, none of these traditional rulers had the chance of ruling the state twice,”(Daily Trust).
Our traditional rulers who were once very powerful combining executive, legislative, and judicial powers before the colonial conquest of the 19th century soon after the conquest and the subsequent local government reforms, the emirates were brought under local governments supervision, the once powerful emirs, completely lost their powers.
Our traditional rulers have no clear constitutional role in our constitution. They are the custodians of our cultures and traditions. This is why some people are advocating for constitutional role to our highly revered traditional rulers.
Our traditional rulers are in serious dilemma of whether to be “puppets” or “to speak truth to the powers that be”. Many people often criticize them for keeping “quiet “or “mute”on issues of bad policies or, programmes or insecurity or, unemployment, and or bad governance. They are often accused of being”yes men” to the powers that be just as their forefathers were once accused of being to the white men.
Our highly revered traditional rulers must accept the fact that they are now subjected to political authority. It appears that the best way to last long on the throne as an emir or a chief is to “keep quiet” on governance issues no matter “what” and or “whatsoever”.
May the Almighty Allah choose the best situation for Kano state.
