Ganduje’s battle to bastardise Emirate of Kano, for us, is a fight to finish – Kano Govt
*All crisis they created is about restoration of dignity of Kano Emirate – Sanusi Bature
*Says, ‘Governor Yusuf did no wrong reinstating Emir Sanusi II done concurrently with assenting to Kano Emirate (Repeal) Law 2024’
*Vows state government will challenge the jurisdiction of Federal High Court in entertaining chieftaincy matters
*’It’s a fight to finish as we will pursue it up to the Supreme Court’
*Ado Bayero was never Emir of Kano but Emir of 8 metropolitan local governments of Kano City – Kano Govt House
*Says he currently lives in a graveyard not a mini palace and place not ceded to him as he forced himself into it
*There is one Emir of Kano and he is Muhammadu Sanusi II as court ruling affirms validity of repeal law, he says
By KEMI KASUMU
The last may not have been heard about the chieftaincy crisis believed was started by former Governor of Kano State and currently National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as the sitting government in the state vows to pursue the already declared war to logical conclusion.
This was made known in an Arise Television’s Friday June 21, 2024 interview featuring the Director General, Media and Publicity Government House Kano and Spokesman to the Governor, Mallam Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, during which he defended the action taken by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf being nullified by a Federal High Court sitting in Kano.
Currently, believing that their party-led Federal Government is against the government and party in power in Kano State, political thugs – believed to be working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the country – have suddenly resurfaced in parts of the Kano State with some of them, it was gathered, publicly boasting that they can do anything and nothing will happen to them. And that they are carrying themselves in ways more like poised to provoke violence with a mindset of achieving, for their paymasters, declaration of a State of Emergence as one of the options allegedly being considered by Abuja and National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to take Kano by all means from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) now or later in 2027.
This ugly trend, according to Our Reporter, may have been made possible by refusal of Commissioner of Police in the state, Muhammad Usaini Gumel, to take orders or carry out directives of the state government a situation many have seen to be more like the police taking side due to interest of Abuja in the emirship tussle in the state.
And the thugs do those things and still boast to be doing same relying on the fact that their Federal government is against the Kano State government and so are trying hard to make the state a lawless state and ungovernable, but before they set Kano State on fire, the Government House Spokesman, Sanusi Bature, granted the educative, well outlined interview on Arise Television to let the Nigerians and the world be aware of the truth about the emirship tussle they are using to cause trouble and make the state ungovernable for his principal, the governor.
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Governor Yusuf did no wrong
He said every action taken by his principal with connection to the emirate matters was correct and constitutional and could not rightly be correct for anyone including the Federal court to dismiss same as null and void.
Asked if the crisis could not have been avoided especially where it seems there is no Emir of Kano presently based on the court ruling, the Dawakin Tofa said, “I think the action of the Governor, His Excellency Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, was to actually protect the integrity of the Emirate as an institution. The Emirate of Kano predates Nigeria and predates the Nigerian Constitution. So, therefore, it’s over a thousand years history of people living together under one Emir and the previous administration of Ganduje decided to bastardise that institution, that history and take politics into it.
“So the politicisation of the Emirate is what His Excellency promised during the campaign that he is going to restore the lost glory of the state and he’s only fulfilling the campaign promise. This is not the first time an Emir was deposed because Ganduje did it, and when Ganduje did it, the 14th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi, left Kano without any rancour and decided to go away from the state for peace to reign. So, therefore, Sanusi is now back to Kano as the 16th Emir after the repeal of the law.
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“Repealing of the law, which the court affirmed its validity, confirms that there is no longer the Emirate of Kano City, Rano, Gaya, Karaye and Bichi. And I want to put it clear to the comprehension of everybody, Aminu Ado Bayero was never an Emir of Kano. Aminu was appointed an Emir of eight metropolitan local governments of Kano City. So, therefore, with the revision of the law under One United Kano, the Emirate that Aminu served does no longer exist,” he said.
As for Ado Bayero being referred to as the 15th Emir of Kano against Bature’s postulation of him not being Emir of Kano, he said, “What I want to explain here is that he was an Emir of eight metropolitan local governments that was Kano City Emirate, which was at that status because the main Emirate was bastardised by Ganduje under the 2019 Emirate Law, which created Rano, Gaya, Karaye and Bichi Emirates. So, therefore, he was 15th Emir of Kano but his jurisdiction was not for the 44 Local Governments of Kano. He’s just only for the eight metropolitan local governments which is now abolished. And the judge, in his ruling yesterday (Thursday June 21), affirmed the validity of the law (Emirate Law 2024)”, he made the assertion with which the interview anchor concurred.
Federal High Court has no jurisdiction, it’s a fight to finish
He continued, “Yes, (the judge affirmed the validity of the law) but nullified the action of the Governor after the assenting of the law. But there is one point here, the Governor assented the law 5:10pm on the 23th of May 2024. The assenting of the law and the reinstatement of Emir Sanusi happened concurrently at the same time, the same minute, the same day.
“So, therefore, if you reaffirmed the validity of the law based on the fact that there was no court order at that time, that should be extended to the reinstatement of Emir Sanusi because, assenting of the law and the reinstatement happened at the same time.”
Would the state government be willing to review the process of reinstating of Emir Sanusi II since the court has issues with it? Sanusi Bature said no.
“You know, we are not willing. Why? Because we have gone to appeal, we have filed an appeal in Appeal Court and for that reason, the judge of the High Court decided to stay the proceeding and transferred the case to his counterpart of Court Three in the same Federal High Court in Kano. So, therefore, we are now waiting for the appeal. We would appeal this case up to the Supreme Court.
“This is an interlocutory appeal. First, we are challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to entertain issue related to chieftaincy affairs because, constitutionally, issue to do with the chieftaincy affairs lies with the State High Court and we have instituted two cases before the State High Court in Kano and they came almost in conflict with the two cases in Federal High Court. So, therefore, we would pursue this case vigorously and it’s a fight to finish!”
On how possible will eviction of Ado Bayero be in a situation where Nasarawa’s guest house he occupies has been cordoned off by police operatives, he said:
“Year, the eviction notice was served yesterday (Thursday June 20, 2024) after the judgement because the judgement clearly accepted the deposition of former Emir of the eight metropolitan local governments, Aminu Bayero. As the law is valid, Aminu and other Emirs remained deposed and the Emirates remain abolished by accepting the law as valid. That is one.
Ado Bayero lives in a graveyard
“Secondly, the Gidan Nasarawa that we have been talking about is not a palace. People call it mini palace, it’s not a mini palace. It absolutely serves for two, three reasons. It’s actually a cemetery for late Emirs of Kano. It is a cemetery, it’s not a palace. Any Emir of Kano that dies is taken and buried there. And, then, part of it is used as guest house for senior or very important visitors of the palace. Like, if the Sultan of Sokoto or the Emir of Zaria is visiting Kano, that is where he will be taken to.
“So, it’s a guest house and, then, that is where the Emir used to rest if he is coming back from the Hawan Nasarawa, which is an annual festival during the Sallah celebration, so the Emir would stay there for some minutes to rest and then proceed to Government House for Sallah greetings to the Governor. So, Aminu is living in a graveyard. It is a graveyard! Yes. Many people did not understand that he lives in a graveyard. The first ruling of the Federak High Court says should be given N10 million because his human rights were violated. That’s incorrect.
Talk about rights violation and demolition of guest house
“Why I said this is because, he forced himself into that government property, which is the cemetery.”
Must the guest house be demolished just to get Ado Bayero out of the way? Sanusi answered in the affirmative, saying, “Like I told you, when Aminu was the Emir of Kano City, he didn’t use that place as a resting area or he was not keeping guests there. So, the place is somehow dilapidated and we are afraid of a situation where something would happen while he is there and people will create a minute to it. So, therefore, we are asking him to vacate the place so we can renovate it to standard because the new Emir, Sanusi, the 16th Emir of Kano will continue to use it for that purpose, will be keeping guests and will be coming there to rest.”
He said, “That is why the Governor ordered the police to handle the matter and people know, constitutionally, the Governor has the responsibility to protect lives and properties of the people. So, Aminu Bayero is an indigene of Kano and is well respected human being. So, therefore, we don’t want anything to happen to him in that very defective structure.”
Police taking side
“Not really forcefully because he forced himself into the cemetery, the graveyard. So, therefore we asked him initially to come out that. He is not under any pressure to leave Kano. As a citizen, as a very important personality, he has the right to move around because the entire process does not affect his fundamental human rights. He is free to move anywhere.”
Asked if he was saying the quit notice will not be effected anytime soon, the DG Media and Publicity said, “Well, we are not sure the police is able to respect the directive of His Excellency because the police has taken side at the moment.
“The police has taken side at the moment because they seem not to have been taking orders from the Governor. The Governor is the Chief Security Officer and he has right to take any decision that can help him deliver the constitutional rights given to him by the good people of Kano.
“First of all, when Aminu arrived midnight to Kano at a time when he and his family, Aminu, vacated the main palace, they had taken all their belongs from the main palace but he was convinced by some unpatriotic politicians to return to Kano and give a fight. So, when he came to Kano, he could not enter the main palace because Emir Sanusi II is already there, he assumed the full responsibility of an Emir.
“So, therefore, he (Aminu) could not go in there. So he decided to go to the Emir’s graveyard and stayed there. And this is almost one month. You can imagine somebody imprisoning himself,” he said noting that although he could not remember the number of Emirs who had been buried in the cemetery occupied by Ado Bayero but that they are more than four, including his father, late Ado Bayero of blessed memory is there. Father and grandfather, his uncle are all there.”
Leading Jumaat prayer
Does Kano State currently has an Emir? Sanusi Bature said, yes. “What I am saying is that, Aminu as a Muslim has the right the right to pray anywhere he wants. He can lead Jumat prayer anywhere he likes but not in the Kano Emir’s Palace because that is Emir’s Mosque. Emir’s Mosque is attached to the Emir’s Palace and Emir Sanusi has been leading jumat prayers from the very week he arrived the Palace. This I think is the third week and he led Jumat prayer even today.
“Let me put it clear, Aminu does not lead prayer. Aminu follows an Imam in a prayer. He has never led prayer for once. He never led prayer. You can check it, there is no picture or video that will show Aminu is leading prayer. He instructs an Imam to lead him in prayers. But in the context of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, he leads prayer by himself.
“So, therefore, the official prayer of an Emir is done at the Emir’s Friday Mosque, which is one of the historic mosques in Northern Nigeria attached to the Emir’s Palace and has been taken over by Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.”
Asked if he was saying that Ado Bayero was never recognised as a spiritual head in Kano State, the Government House Spokesman said, “Well, it depends on the deep understanding and learning of the Islamic culture and Islamic education of the person. Probably because Sanusi is versed in Islamic education and Islamic law then he decided to be leading prayers. And, previously, an Emir is the Chief Imam in history. You know, this Emirate is over 1,000 years. Initially, an Emir is the Chief Imam, is the Chief Judge and is the Emir. So, he decided everything before the Constitution, before the Independence. After the Independence we now have president and governor and local government chairmen, so therefore they are relegated into merely traditional institution that protects culture and norms and values.”
Outside of the courts, any chance that this could be resolved?
Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa said, “For us, it’s a fight to finish because the governor has the right to dethrone Emir, to reappoint Emir, to appoint a new Emir or reinstate a former Emir. He has the right and he did that. He has the constitutional right and nobody can stop from him, even if it can take us 100 years, Governor has the exclusive right to depose Emir or appoint a new Emir.”
