Kano Governor nullifies 4 Emirates, reinstates Sanusi as Emir

The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has signed into law a Kano State House of Assembly Bill nullifying the four Emirate Councils created by former governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Governor Yusuf signed the law after the Kano Assembly passed the Bill on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

News Band had earlier reported that the House passed the Kano Emirates Council Law (repeal bill).

The Law effectively abolished the establishment of five Emirate Councils in the ancient city of the state.

Under the repealed law, all offices that were established as part of the Emirate Councils have been set aside.

Additionally, all district heads elevated or appointed under the repealed law will revert to their previous positions.

A predicted move

Recall that News Band also reported on Jun 14, 2023, an ongoing plot to scrap the new Emirates created by Ganduje.

The report also hinted on a possible restoration of Sanusi as Kano Emir. The publication reads in part:

“The Kano State Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf is set to send a bill for the amendment of Kano Emirates Law.

“The bill will seek for the scrapping of the additional four emirates namely Bichi, Gaya, Rano and Karaye with first class Emirs.”

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf

The Bill was the first official assignment of the Kano State House of Assembly inaugurated on June 13, 2023.

Several pundits suspected the development to happen as soon as the Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso-led New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) won the 2023 governorship election.

That was expected because Sanusi was crowned Emir under Kwankwaso, a former governor of the state.

The Kwankwaso factor

When his successor, Ganduje, dethroned him, Kwankwaso had kicked against the move, including the creation of new Emirates.

On May 8, 2019, Kano Assembly had approved amendment of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Law.

The amendment paved the way for the decentralisation of the Kano Emirate Council.

Earlier on, the former Governor, Ganduje, had sent the bill to the Assembly for the passage of the law.

Upon passage of the new law, Sanusi was stripped of his control over 44 local governments, leaving only 10 under his watch.

He was eventually dethroned by the former administration of Abdullahi Ganduje as the then Emir of Kano.

He was afterward banished from the ancient city, as the Emirate got balkanized to create four other emirates.

Denigrating Kano law

Shortly afterwards, a High Court sitting in Kano, on November 21, 2019, nullified the four Emirate Councils.

Ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Usman Na’abba, declared the creation of the Emirates and appointment of four Emirs illegal.

Unfazed, Ganduje went about his administrative duties as if the judgement never took place.

Governor Yusuf, in order to appease his benefactor, Kwankwaso, reinstated Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano.

He also gave the four other Emirs 48 hours to vacate their offices.

Thus, five years after wandering, Sanusi II is set to re-ascend the throne as the Emir of the ancient city.

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