“I Can Help Tinubu, But I Will Not” – Emir Sanusi

By Adesina Soyooye

“This Government has nobody with pedigree to explain to the people what it is doing”

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Lamido Sanusi 11, has given reasons why he is looking the other way while the President Bola Tinubu Government struggles with Nigeria’s economy.

Sanusi, an accomplished banker, economist and financial expert was a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and before then, the Group Managing Director of one of Nigeria’s flagship banks, First Bank Plc.

But inspite of his vast experience in world economies, Sanusi said he will not lift a finger to help his home country, Nigeria, in its struggles to overcome an economy trying to come out of coma by way of offering advice. He said he will offer no advice at all even though he knows what to say, and how to help.

Sanusi spoke on Wednesday at the 21st Memorial Lecture of accomplished Lawyer, Chief   Gani Fawehimi. He was the Chairman of the occasion.

He disclosed that initially, he was helping the Tinubu Government, but has since decided not to lift a finger again. Stating why he took the decision not to help, he said that even though he regards himself as a friend of the Federal Government, the Federal Government has not treated him as its friend. In other words, for the Emir,  it is a “do me I do you” situation.

Emir Sanusi, as quoted by Punch: “I can give a few words here about what we are going through and how it was predictable and avoidable. But I am not going to do that. I have chosen not to speak on the economy or reforms or to explain anything because if I explain it, it will help this Government. But I don’t want to help this Government. They are my friends, but if they don’t behave like friends, I will not behave like a friend.

“They don’t even have people with pedigree that can come and explain to the people what they are doing. I am not going to help. I started by helping, but I am not going to help. Let them come and explain to Nigerians why they are pursuing the policies that they are pursuing. But I will say one thing though.

“What we are going through today is, at least,  in part, a necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible management.  People were saying that if we continued the way we were going, this is where we will end up, but they refused to listen.

“Now, is everything being done correctly? No. When I am ready to talk, I will talk.”

Not a few people think that the relationship between the FG and Sanusi broke down over the struggle for the throne of the Emir of Kanu. Sanusi’s re-installation as the 46th Emir of Kano by the Kano State Government led to the deposition of Emir Bayero, the 45th Emir of Kano. Sanusi had earlier been deposed by the immediate past Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, now the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who appointed Bayero the Emir. But with a new Government in the State, the Governor, Abba Yusuf, deposed Bayero, the 45th Emir, and re-installed Sanusi as the 46th Emir. The case is still in Court, with both Sanusi and Bayero laying claim to the revered stool, and each holding court in separate Palaces – Sanusi at the massive City Palace, and Bayero at a mini Palace, Nasarawa Quarters.

Both Sanusi and the Kano State Government believe that the FG is, allegedly, in support of Bayero and would rather have him as the Emir than him, Sanusi.