Rabi'u Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has announced that the incoming government of Abba Yusuf, the governor-elect of Kano State, will review the controversial dethronement of the 14th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi. Kwankwaso made the announcement in a viral video released on Saturday.
Sanusi, who became emir during Kwankwaso's final term as governor of Kano state, was deposed by outgoing Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on March 9, 2020.
The move was widely criticized and sparked protests in Kano and beyond. Sanusi was banished from Kano and sent to Loko, a remote community in Nasarawa State, while the expenses of the emirate under his leadership were probed. Ganduje also split the Kano emirate into five and appointed new emirs, which was seen by many as an attempt to weaken Sanusi's influence.
Kwankwaso, who has been an outspoken critic of Ganduje's actions, has promised to work with the incoming government to address the issues surrounding Sanusi's removal and the fragmentation of the Kano emirate. He stated that, as elders, they would continue to advise the government to do the right thing.
Kwankwaso added, "Those who were given this opportunity will sit down and see to the issues. They will look at what they are expected to do. Besides the Emir, even the emirate has been divided into five places. All these need to be studied. Usually, a leader inherits good, bad, and issues that are hard to reconcile."
The dethronement of Sanusi and the division of the Kano emirate have been controversial issues both locally and internationally. Sanusi is a well-respected figure, both in Nigeria and beyond, and his removal was seen by many as politically motivated. Kwankwaso's announcement that the incoming government will review the situation is likely to generate significant interest, particularly among Sanusi's supporters.
It remains to be seen what action the Yusuf government will take, but Kwankwaso's promise to hold the new administration accountable on this issue is a clear indication that the controversy surrounding Sanusi's removal is far from over.
