Kano, 24 May 2024 – Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, the reinstated Emir of Kano, led the Jumat prayers at the Government House in Kano shortly after receiving his letter of reappointment from Governor Abba Yusuf on Friday.
In his first public statement since being reinstated, Emir Sanusi highlighted the divine nature of leadership. “God gives leadership to whom He wants and at the time He wants. When He gives, no one can take it away, and when He takes it away, nobody can take it back,” he declared, underscoring the spiritual perspective on his return to power.
Governor Yusuf, who had previously stated that Sanusi’s dethronement in 2019 was a form of victimization, emphasized the corrective nature of his reinstatement. “We felt it was necessary to restore what is due to the good people of the state,” Yusuf explained. “By reinstating Sanusi, we are righting a wrong and bringing back stability and respect to our traditional institution.”
Sanusi’s reinstatement has sparked a mixed reaction. While some welcomed the move, others, like former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso—who initially appointed Sanusi in June 2014—denied any involvement in the reinstatement decision. Additionally, a group named the Concerned Patriots of Nigeria protested at the National Assembly, urging its leadership to intervene in the ongoing crisis in the Kano Emirate.
Reflecting on recent events, Sanusi remarked, “The unfolding events in Kano underscore the Arab saying that in everything we witness, there is a lesson that shows us that God is there. Whatever is happening to an individual is preordained by Allah, and to those who are sensible enough, it’s a lesson.”
Sanusi further commented on the historical significance of his reinstatement, noting that it was unprecedented in Kano’s thousand-year history for an Emir to be dethroned and then reinstated. He also criticized the political fragmentation of emirates in northern Nigeria, warning that Kano could have faced a similar fate if not for the current government’s actions. “What the government and the assembly did is a rescue mission,” Sanusi said.
Governor Yusuf elaborated on the rationale behind the reinstatement, citing Sanusi’s credibility and intellect as pivotal during this challenging period. “Sanusi’s wealth of experience will provide the visionary and purposeful leadership needed to reunite and rebuild the traditional institution,” Yusuf affirmed.
Yusuf also addressed the controversy surrounding the Federal High Court order that attempted to prevent the implementation of the new law that facilitated Sanusi’s reinstatement. He accused Justice Mohammed Liman of issuing the order from the United States, questioning the legitimacy and timing of the court’s intervention. “How could he sit in America and give an order in Nigeria to stop a legitimate process?” Yusuf questioned, asserting that due process had been followed.
The governor assured that Sanusi and members of his emirate council would return to their lodge after the prayers and continue their duties. An announcement regarding Sanusi’s move to the palace will be made later.
Yusuf concluded by appealing to the people of Kano to maintain peace and go about their daily activities, asserting that the situation in the state remains calm and stable.
The ceremony concluded with district heads and senior council chiefs paying their respects to Emir Sanusi at the Africa House, signifying their allegiance and support for his leadership.
