Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has insisted that the creation of additional first-class emirates in the state has come to stay, as the split of the traditional emirate enjoys overwhelming support of indigenes.
According to Ganduje, regardless of perceived moves by the incoming administration to review the traditional institution, nothing will happen to the new emirates.
Ganduje was addressing workers during the May Day celebration, yesterday, ostensibly in response to the recent comment by New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on the dethronement of the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
In a viral video on social media, Kwankwaso declared that review of the Kano emirate’s division into five by Ganduje is a must for the incoming NNPP government.
“We have campaigned and we are popular in Nigeria, especially in Kano. We are back and, God willing, we will continue with the good works our administration left.”
This incoming governor and his team will take them up.
“As elders, we will continue to advise the incoming government to do the right thing. We tried not to intervene in the issue of bringing or removing any Emir; but now, an opportunity has come. Those who were given this opportunity will sit down and see to the issues. They will look at what they are expected to do,” Kwankwaso said.
However, Ganduje reminded him that formation of additional four emirates with first-class monarchs was borne out of the will of the traditional rulers and major stakeholders. He stressed that any attempt to destroy the traditional heritage would be resisted by the people.
The outgoing governor noted that the new emirates, since their formation, wrought a paradigm shift and impacted positively on the socio-economic well-being of their communities.
Ganduje, who alluded to the fact that pulling the string of destroying the people’s will would never fulfil any selfish interest, challenged the traditional institution to guard its heritage jealously.
The governor had dethroned Sanusi in March 2020 and banished him to Loko village in Nassarawa State as part of traditional requirement, which was later set aside by the court.
He subsequently replaced the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, son of the late emir, and weakened the supremacy of the Kano emirate with creation of additional four first-class emirates.
Sanusi was accused of defiling the throne by meddling in government policies and unduly criticising policies and decisions of government he ought to protect.
