Sanusi Lamido, a prominent traditional and religious figure in Nigeria has returned as the Emir of Kano amidst a colorful celebration after he was removed four years ago.
His reinstatement as the 16th Emir of Kano was met with a jubilant carnival-like celebration, despite opposition from some quarters and this was evident in the number of people who trooped out to joyfully welcome Sanusi, who was deposed from the throne by the former governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje on March 9, 2020.
Clad in majestic regalia, the monarch rode on a magnificently adorned horse befitting his royal status. Accompanied by his family and loved ones, he made a grand entrance back to the palace, where he was greeted with different performances, which created an atmosphere of festivity.
Present at the event were traditional rulers, kingmakers, and other top dignitaries.
How Gov Abba Made The Reinstatement Possible
The emir who is an ex-central bank chief was reappointed by current Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf at Kano State Government House on Friday, May 24, 2024, where he also received his letter of reinstatement at the Government House in Kano.
During his 2023 campaign to become governor, Mr Yusuf had pledged to bring Mr Sanusi back as emir.
The governor said, “By the powers conferred on me by the Kano Emirate Council Law of 1984 and 2024, and supported by the recommendation of the kingmakers, I have the singular pleasure of confirming the reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and the head of the Kano Emirate Council.”
Yusuf noted that Sanusi’s reappointment was “based on his competence, credibility, and popularity,” urging the new Kano Emir “to be guided by the principles of Islamic teachings and to use his position to unite the emirate, fostering harmony among the Islamic sects in the state.”
Meanwhile, this latest development is coming after the governor pledged to bring back Sanusi as the Emir of Lano during his campaign in 2023
The monarch is now officially the 14th and 16th emir of the ancient northern Nigerian city, having served in two different dispensations.
How He Was Dethroned
On 9 March 2020, Sanusi was dethroned by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. He was in his private residence in Gidan Rumfa when he learned of his removal while waiting for state officials to formally serve him the deposition letter a contingent of police, and military.
Military and security operatives stormed the palace and he accepted his dethronement as a divine act and urged his supporters to remain calm and avoid bloodshed.
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He also urged them to declare an oath of allegiance to his successor Aminu Ado Bayero, and stated “It is a thing of pride that made us rule and end in the same fashion as the Khalifa,” about his grandfather Muhammadu Sanusi I, who was also deposed and exiled in 1963.
The Kano House of Assembly later passed a bill to split the Kano Emirate Council, majorly under Sanusi’s control, into five emirates, thereby lowering his influence.
Afterwards, Sanusi was sacked and replaced by the recently deposed 15th Emir – Aminu Ado Bayero.
How He Ascended The Throne Back 4 Years Later
On Thursday, May 23, 2024, the Kano House of Assembly dissolved all the five newly created emirate councils in the state – Bichi, Karaye, Gaya, Rano; including Kano, and passed the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024 which replaced the Kano State Emirates Council Law, 2019.
The 2024 Bill gave the way to reinstate Sanusi.
In addition, the governor gave the five emirs a 48-hour ultimatum to vacate their official residences and palaces.
Reacting to this, the governor, while recalling past events during the turmoil, said Sanusi was victimized when he was dethroned as the emir, adding that his reinstatement is good for the people of the state.
“We had a series of meetings with the kingmakers yesterday, extensive discussions with the Speaker, and we also sat with all the heads of security. At the end of the day, we all gathered in the chamber where I received the bill that repealed the former law, and we signed the new law repealing all the appointments,” he was quoted as saying.
Sanusi’s Reaction After His Reinstatement
Speaking after receiving the letter of appointment, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi said his reinstatement as the Emir of Kano was a sign that no man can change what God has destined.
He commended the Governor and the lawmakers through whom God destined that he would be reinstated as the Emir. He said the move had saved the state from waking up one day to witness each of the 44 LGAs in the state having its own Emir.
His words: “My Governor and our assembly members, you will not understand the gravity of what you did for the history of Kano and the country at large. Among Kano Emirs, it started from Bagauda over 1000 years ago. In these years, it was once that we had Emir Muhammadu Koguna who was overthrown and he came back after some days. This shows that in 1000 years, there had been no case like what happened now.
“In the northern part of this country, we have seen in different states how politicians balkanized emirates with a state that has one Emir becoming 20, some 19. In states of northern Nigeria, there are Local Governments with two or three first-class Emirs all because the system has been destroyed.
“This thing that has been brought to Kano, had it been allowed, one day we will wake up with Emir of Kumbotso, Bichi, Fagge, and 44 Emirs. So what the government and the assembly did is a rescue mission.”
The reinstated Emir, Sanusi II led the two rakat Juma’at prayers which have in attendance the Governor, his cabinet members, and other personalities at the government house.
