By SANUSI BATURE
“If you pursue evil with pleasure, the pleasure passes away and the evil remains; If you pursue good with labor, the labor passes away but the good remains.“— Cicero
WITH the unfolding events in the history of Kano Emirate Council, the name of His Excellency, Abba Kabir Yusuf, will be laced on the plates of gold considering the role he is devotedly playing to restore the battered image and regretful distortion of the revered Kano Emirate. The intention to balkanise and ridicule the historic Kano Emirate was hatched, plotted and carried out by the immediate-past administration of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who, out of malice and chronic urge for political vendetta, dethroned and banished the 14th Emir of Kano, His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II, even after dividing the Kano Emirate into five places, against the wish of the people.
At the first instance, the division of the Kano Emirate and elevation of the District Heads of Bichi, Rano, Karaye and Gaya to First Class Emirs was one to spite Emir Sanusi, who after all, did not give a wink. Unsatisfied that dividing the Kano Emirate did not distract the popular Emir Sanusi from speaking truth to power, Ganduje and his co-travellers concocted allegations of insubordination that led to the unjust dethronement and banishment of Emir Sanusi, an action, which was widely condemned by men of good conscience. Emir Sanusi fought and secured his freedom and fundamental human rights of freedom of movement through the Court; and moved on with his life– going about doing good and offering valuable advise to administrators and leaders across the world for a better world.
During his electioneering campaigns, part of the promises made to the people of Kano by Governor Yusuf was that his administration will not only restore the battered traditional institution of Kano, but will also reinstate Emir Sanusi who was maliciously removed by ex-Governor Ganduje. Based on this promise, among others, the good people of Kano State overwhelmingly voted for Abba Gida-Gida. Today, the Governor has no choice, than to implement and execute the wishes of the people. It is a social contract he signed with the people of Kano, which must be fulfilled, no matter, whose, ox is gored.
In any case, Governor Yusuf’s populist action is not new to Kano political-cum-traditional landscape. Adequate legal steps were taken to repeal the Kano Emirate Council Law (2019). The enactment of the Emirate Council Law (2024) ensured the death and burial of Kano Emirate Law (2019), maliciously created by Ganduje as a weapon to humiliate and ridicule Emir Sanusi. Indeed, Emir Sanusi’s return as the 16th Emir of Kano rekindled important aspect of Kano history which played out in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Recall that during the administration of ex-Governor Abubakar Rimi of blessed memory, there was an attempt to create five emirates in Kano State by splitting the Kano Emirate into five. Some members of the royal family and other traditional rulers, who saw it as an attempt to weaken the Kano Emirate’s influence opposed this move. However, Rimi went ahead with the plan and created the new emirates of Gaya, Karaye, Dutse, Rano, and Kano in April 1981. The Kano Emirate was reduced in size and given a more ceremonial role, while the new emirates were granted more administrative and political powers.
The Emir of Kano at the time was not deposed. But was queried for his movements in July 1981 after returning from a journey. The move led to riots in Kano and Rimi never recovered politically and resigned in 1983 after falling out with Aminu Kano. When Governor Sabo Bakin Zuwo took over in 1983, he reversed the decision and restored the Kano Emirate to its original size and status, with the other emirates abolished. His decision was seen as an attempt to restore the traditional balance of power and to address the concerns of those who opposed the creation of the new emirates. Sabo Bakin Zuwo’s action was viewed by many as reflecting the wishes of the people, just the same way the good people of Kano State are hailing the People’s Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, for restoring the integrity of Kano Emirate.
I can vividly recall that many Northern leaders and elite condemned the decision of Ganduje to balkanise the Kano Emirate into five in 2019. They criticized the decision. They questioned the motive. They foresaw the consequences. They advised Ganduje against it, but all their overtures fell on deaf ears. A renowned historian at Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, Professor Nadir Nasidi, is among the experts who opposed the creation of the new emirates in Kano. According to him: “Kano is the only Emirate in the country with one unifying king. The creation of unnecessary kings is not palatable. Many people, including myself, told the Ganduje administration that what he was doing wasn’t a good one.”
It is also pertinent to note that nobody agitated for the creation of four other Emirates in Kano. It was entirely the sole decision of Ganduje and his supporters to create problem in Kano’s traditional institution simply because they do not like the face and patriotic stance of Emir Sanusi. The people of Kano never asked to be divided. We are one people. Nobody asked for new emirates. So, what we are dealing with is a situation where somebody divided us. Kano Emirate is a kingdom that has existed for over 1000 years. If you go to the king’s list in Kano, the king’s list from Baguada started in 999 AD. We have a list of kings from Baguada up to the 16th Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II.
