Despite Intervention By Dangote, Others, Sanusi May Still Be Dethroned

By Uche Mbah

The Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi II, is probably on the way to suffering the fate of his grandfather, who was dethroned in the sixties when he was caught in a political logjam of the period. He has just returned from a trip to London, and has been received by a mammoth crowd in Kano.

Recall that Mohammadu Sanusi, the grandfather of the current Emir, was deposed by Ahmadu Bello, the Saduana of Sokoto, due to what was once described as the unwieldy political influence of the former. In fact, problems started when he hosted Queen Elizabeth II when She visited Nigeria in 1956. He was exiled to Azare after being dethroned in 1963. But Ahmadu Bello never contemplated balkanizing the Emirate.

Since the news broke of the speedy enactment of a law to balkanize the Emirate and the signing of same into law by the governor broke, more facts have emerged on the behind the scene activities. This Magazine gathered that the Business Mogul,

Aliko Dangote, himself from Kano, has tried to intervene, prevailing on governor Umar Ganduje, to drop his initial plan of dethronement of the Emir. But Ganduje, intent on getting  his pound of flesh, proceeded on his plan B: the balkanization of the Emirate. Other prominent Emirs were said to have intervened to no avail. “There is no way Ganduje could have pulled this stunt alone without the backing of the presidency”, an analyst said over the weekend. “His backers are very high up.”

Since the beginning of the saga, president Buhari has kept mum.

Sanusi himself has been very critical of the presidency. In fact, this Magazine was told that during the run up to the 2019 elections, he has tried to railroad the South west Obas into pulling the plug on Bola Tinubu, the Lion of Bourdillon, by pitching their tent with Atiku and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

He reportedly told them that the All Progressives Congress, APC will lose the presidency. This, the APC, like the elephant, never forgot. And never forgave. And he was said to have openly endorsed the activities of the presidential flag bearer of the Party, Atiku Abubakar.

Meanwhile, Sanusi supporters has gone to Court to top Ganduje from turbaning four more Emirs in Kano. A Kano High Court ruled favorably on the ex parte motion restraining the governor from going ahead with his plan. Despite this, the governor went ahead to give the new Emirs their staff of Office, claiming he did not get the order.

He claimed that the Sanusi ought to be reporting to the local government Chairman and not to him, and that his balkanization of the emirate was to bring the traditional ruler-ship to the people and has nothing to do with personal vendetta.

As expected, tension was rife in Kano since the saga started. The people of Wudil, for example, are said to have rejected the new Gaya Emirate, and demands to be back in the old Emirate.

Before the installation of the new Emirates, heavy security presence were observed at Sanusi’s Palace, and the residences of his principal officers. There were also soldiers stationed at the entrance of Kano state government house.

This, it was gathered, wast to forestall any crisis arising from the supporters of Sanusi. But Sanusi himself was in London for an undisclosed reason, but it may have not been unconnected with his fate and his recent appointment as as one of the new Advocates for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations. He was one of the 17 influential public figures picked by the UN from around the world. His appointment coincided with crisis at home.

Again, accusing fingers are being pointed towards his former allies from the South west who are currently said to be Ganduje’s clandestine drummers from the sideline.

They were the ones, it has been alleged, that advised the resuscitation of the Financial scandal that trailed the Emir, which case was put in the coolers when some prominent people intervened.The resuscitation was said to be a prelude to using  corruption allegation to depose him. And that may result in the same house of Assembly revisiting the balkanization and getting it reversed. Mission Accomplished.