Kano Emirship: Confusion As NSA Addresses Bayero As Emir Of Kano

By Gideon Njoku

Inside him, the Kano State Government-deposed 15th Emir of Kano must be celebrating. He was, on Thursday, October 3, 2024, referred to as the Emir of Kano by no less a person than the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu.

The dethroned Emir has been in a tussle for the revered ancient throne with the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Lamido Sanusi Lamido, the 14th Emir of Kano who was deposed by the immediate past Kano State Government headed by Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, now the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC in 2020. He was first appointed the Emir in 2021.

Ganduje, just before he deposed Sanusi, created three more Emirates from the Ancient Kano Emirate and appointed three new Emirs while Sanusi remained the Emir of a much diminished Kano Emirate.

But on 9th March, 2020, Ganduje deposed Sanusi, sent him on exile to a remote area of Nasarawa State, and appointed Bayero as the 15th Emir of Kano. It took a Court ruling for Sanusi to be freed from the demeaning Nasarawa environment.

But with the defeat of the APC by the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Governor Idris woke up one morning and, apparently, in connivance with the  House of Assembly, repealed the law which created three other Emirates out of the old Kano Emirate, sacked the Emirs, including Bayero, and reinstated Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano on 23rd May, 2024.

Since then, Kano has not been the same. The ancient City has two Emirs – Sanusi, Government recognised, and Bayero waiting for his fate to be decided by the Courts. Both are operating from different Palaces  – Sanusi occupying the main Palace, and Bayero, a mini Palace in the Nasarawa quarters of the City.

Bayero was out of the State when Sanusi moved into Kano and the Palace. The expectation was that he would stay put where he was, but no. He flew back to Kano, accompanied by quite a number of security personnel, and drove straight to the mini Palace where he holds Court.

Worried by his presence in Kano, the Governor ordered him to live Kano. But Bayero ignored the order, and more security personnel were sent to him. While not a few people are waiting with bated breath for the final decision by the Courts, Bayero had a  breather from no less a person than

Ribadu.

At an event in Abuja on Thursday, the NSA  acknowledged the presence of Bayero, and referred to him as the Emir of Kano.

This happened at the 1st Annual International Lecture with the theme: “Insecurity in the Sahel (2008-2024), organised by the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.

According to  reports, NSA Ribadu, while recognizing dignitaries present at the occasion,  acknowledged Bayero thus: “Of course, the Emir of Kano.” The ovation which greeted the acknowledgement showed it was well received.

The Kano State Government had, at the beginning of the crisis, alleged that Ribadu was behind Bayero. The Government later apologized to the NSA for the mis-speak.