Kano: The emirate with two emirs

MUHAMMAD SABIU writes about the ongoing contention in the Kano emirate involving Muhammad Sanusi ll and Aminu Ado Bayero.

The exalted Kano traditional stool has been in turmoil since the reinstatement of Muhammad Sanusi ll on May 24 as the 16th Emir of Kano. Now, the ancient city of Kano has two Emirs who are both claiming rights to the ancestral stool.

Muhammad Sanusi ll was reappointed following the enactment of the new Emirate law 2024, by the Kano State House of Assembly. Upon his reinstatement, Sanusi was escorted to the Gidan Rumfa palace by the governor, Yusuf Abba; the deputy governor, Aminu Gwarzo and top government officials.

On the other hand, is the camp of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, whose reign was supposed to end on May 24. However, this was not to be following a court order which ruled that the status quo should be maintained. Bayero having derived his powers from the court order was escorted back to Kano from Abuja to remain as an emir.

Upon his arrival, last Friday night, an attempt to escort him to Gidan Rumfa palace was, however, not possible as Sanusi had already occupied the palace.

Thus, the embattled Bayero was subsequently escorted to the Nasarawa palace where he has been staying since his return. Since then, security personnel deployed to the palace have continued to keep an eye on him and to provide security for him.

 

Uncertainties, dilemmas

Who actually is the Emir of Kano, seems to be the question on the lips of the residents of the ancient city. Is it Sanusi or Bayero?

Speaking on the issue, the state deputy governor, Aminu Gwarzo, blamed some top federal government officials for the current crisis in the state.

He argued that they wanted to impose the deposed Emir Bayero by all means.

However, he said it would not work as they ought to know that the state government is entirely vested with the powers of appointing and dismissing an emir.

His view is different from that of the state’s Commissioner of Police, Hussaini Gumel, who spoke on behalf of the security agencies.

Gumel insisted that since a court order has been granted, the state government must obey the order.

Additionally, both monarchs have added their own views on the current dilemma. In his first interview after his reinstatement, the 16th Emir of Kano, Sanusi described his reinstatement as justice against the injustice that was meted to him.

He also kicked against the balkanisation of the emirates, saying that if the law is allowed to stand, one day residents will wake up having 44 emirs in Kano. According to him, Kano has a rich cultural heritage which should not be allowed to erode.

Also speaking, Aminu Ado Bayero noted that nobody is  above the law, while he maintained that the court should be allowed to decide.

He remained hopeful that justice will prevail on the issue of his dethronement, adding that he was ready to accept whatever the outcome is from the courts. To him, he still remains  the authentic emir of Kano.

Nigerian Tribune found out that the present scenario has happened before in the ancient city of Kano some 800 years ago when two emirs claimed to be the ruler of the city. According to a palace source, these rulers ruled Kano for three years before normalcy was restored.

Apart from this, it was revealed that in recent history only three emirs of Kano have been dethroned.

In 1963, the then Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi l was dethroned and banished to Azare in the present Bauchi State by the premier of the Northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello. Sources said after his banishment, he barely came to Kano except on private visits which no one noticed.

Incidentally, his grandson, Muhammad Sanusi ll was dethroned by a former governor of the state, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Sansusi II was banished to Loko in Nasarawa State and since he was dethroned, he never came to Kano except on private visits.

The third emir to be dethroned was Aminu Ado Bayero who was recently dethroned by Governor Yusuf. However, in his case he returned to Kano instead of going on exile as was the case in previous dethronements.

 

 Two emirs calling the shots

Supporters of both emirs have continued to pay respective homage to the two rulers in contention for the exalted seat. Nigerian Tribune notes that the duo, who happen to come from the source, are being supported by strong forces.

Emir Sanusi who is backed by the state government on Friday, May 25, held a court session where title holders, king makers, friends and family members came to pay homage to him.

It was gathered that he also attended a meeting with the governor and security chiefs in attendance.

Meanwhile, Bayero, who it was gathered was being backed by the security agencies, on Friday, May 25 also held court sessions. He held a meeting with the security chiefs led by the state commissioner of police, CP Gumel. After the meeting, his aides, supporters, subjects and family members paid homage.

Outside the palaces, it was gathered that the division in the rulership has made things messy as even some district heads and family members are divided over the power tussle. Even staff of the emirate are said to be sharply divided.

As the confusion continues, supporters of the two emirs have stormed the palaces to guard and support their principals.

There are video clips sighted by the Nigerian Tribune where hundreds of supporters besieged the Gidan Rumfa palace on Saturday, chanting “Kano sarki daya ne,” which literally means “There’s only one king in Kano.”

At the Nasarawa palace, supporters of Bayero have equally stormed the palace in solidarity. His supporters were equally seen chanting “Kano sai Bayero,” which literally means “Kano belongs to Bayero.”

 

The laws in contention

The two monarchs have been appointed under two different laws. While the 15th emir, Bayero, was appointed and functioned under the 2019 Emirate Law now repealed by the State House of Assembly, the 14th and 16th emir, Sanusi ll, was appointed under the 2024 amended Emirate Law recently enacted by the State House of Assembly.

Commenting on the situation, the Kano State Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) under the leadership of Sagir Suleiman Gezawa, remarked that the branch is following the development with keen interest. He said as a body of lawyers, NBA is  concerned about what is happening.

According to him, the State House of Assembly has the constitutional duty to legislate and once the governor assents it becomes law.

On the purported court order, he posited that once it is given, it must be obeyed.

He was quick to add that the court has its own way of enforcing order.

He said, “It is not within the powers of Nigeria Army to deploy troops to enforce the court order. Thus, this action must be condemned.”

The body of lawyers therefore called on state actors to be mindful of their oaths of office so that their actions do not breach the security and peace in the state. “They should remember that they are accountable in this life and hereafter,” he said.

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