By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Tension divides Kano over Emirate tussle.
The reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi and the conflict with the 15th Emir, Ado Bayero, has deeply split Kano State into two factions, causing tension among natives and non-natives alike.
In an effort to quell the rising tension over the Kano Emirate throne, Kano State Police Commissioner Mohammed Gumel met with Governor Kabir Yusuf yesterday. This meeting followed the governor’s controversial order to arrest Emir Ado Bayero, who had returned to the city amidst tight security early that morning and moved into Gidan Nasarawa (Emir’s Lodge).
However, the police refused to act on the governor’s order, citing a Federal High Court ruling from Thursday that restrained the state government from enforcing the Kano State Emirate Council Repeal Act, which would remove the emirs installed in five emirates following Sanusi’s 2019 dethronement.
Governor Yusuf had issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Bayero and the other affected emirs to vacate their palaces. From his residence, Bayero vowed to respect the court’s decision, asserting that no one is above the law. He called for peace among his supporters, who had gathered to escort him to the main palace.
The situation escalated when armed soldiers, who had escorted Bayero from the airport, continued to guard the Nasarawa palace. Critics, including Kano State Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, condemned the deployment of soldiers, accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje and National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu of orchestrating the move. The NSA’s office denied these allegations.
As Sanusi moved into the main palace accompanied by Governor Yusuf and other officials, his supporters chanted, “Sarki daya ne (there is only one king).” The governor’s Director General of Media and Publicity, Sanusi Bature Tofa, accused Bayero of inciting tension by returning to the city and attempting to reclaim the palace.
Police Commissioner Gumel explained the refusal to arrest Bayero, emphasizing adherence to the court order and warning against actions that could disrupt the state’s peace. He urged the public to remain calm and assured that security agencies were committed to maintaining order.
The political tensions are further complicated by accusations from the governor’s party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), against the APC. The NNPP claims the APC is using federal resources to create instability in Kano to achieve political gains.
Meanwhile, Bayero expressed his commitment to the legal process and called for justice. He was welcomed by supporters at the Kano Airport, who escorted him to Gidan Nasarawa, chanting religious verses.
Kingmaker Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, who obtained the court injunction against the state government’s actions, criticized the hurried passage of the new law without a public hearing. He defended the validity of the court order, asserting that it was appropriately granted despite the governor’s claims of judicial misconduct.
In an interview, Sanusi praised President Bola Tinubu for resisting pressure to interfere, recognizing the issue as a local matter. Sanusi viewed his reinstatement as a correction of past injustices and an opportunity to serve the state once more.
Prominent figures, including the Kano Council of Ulama and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), have called for legal and peaceful resolutions to the conflict. The Ulama urged President Tinubu to ensure peace in Kano, while the NBA emphasized the importance of following constitutional processes and criticized the use of military forces in civil matters.
As the situation remains volatile, all eyes are on the court’s next hearing, which could determine the future of the Kano Emirate and its leadership.
Tension, Security.
Tension divides Kano over Emirate tussle