Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has defended his decision to carve out more emirates from Kano, saying that it is not a personal vendetta against Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido.
Speaking in a chat with State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday, he maintained that the emir is required to report to his local government council chairman by law.
He affirmed that going by Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the emir has no business with the state Governor but with the council boss on issues.
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According to him, the people of Kano State are happy with the creation of more emirates in the state, a move seen but criticised as an attempt to spite the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Told that his action may have rubbished over 800 years of Kano history for personal vendetta, he said: “Well, they are entitled to their own opinion but we are taking Kano to the next level and we need the active participation of the traditional system, especially in the areas of education, security, agriculture. We need the effectiveness of the traditional rulers.
By decentralising it we are following history.
“Years back even before the 800 years you are referring to, the situation was not that. So, if something developed 800 years ago, things are also developing now and there will be another 800 years. So, look at history.
“So, it is not vendetta, I am not against him. In fact, he is supposed to be reporting to the local government chairman according to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is the local government chairman that is supposed to discuss issues with him, not the governor.
“So this is celebrated by the people of Kano and we will make sure that the new Emirate councils are effective in terms of developing Kano State.”