The Kano State House of Assembly has begun the process of revising the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) law in response to widespread calls for Muhammad Sanusi, the deposed 14th Emir of Kano, to be reinstated.
The motion to amend the law was presented by Hussien Dala, the Majority Leader, representing the Dala constituency, during a plenary session on Tuesday.
This law was first amended in 2019 following tensions between the then-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Emir Sanusi.
The amendment led to the fragmentation of the Kano Emirate into five distinct emirates, namely Rano, Karaye, Gaya, and Bichi, with the appointment of First Class Emirs for these newly established regions. This reorganization ultimately resulted in the deposition of Emir Sanusi.
However, the recent electoral victory of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who campaigned on the promise to restore the traditional Kano Emirate system, has revived efforts to reinstate Emir Sanusi. One month before Governor Yusuf took office, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), the ruling party in Kano, indicated that the issue of the emirates would be revisited.
During a public statement, Kwankwaso emphasized the party’s commitment to reviewing the changes made to the emirate structure: “We campaigned and we are well-known in Nigeria, especially in Kano. What we showed the people is by God’s grace all the good projects we started when we were in government. This governor (Abba Kabir Yusuf) and his team will pick up from where we left off.”
Kwankwaso further stated the complexities of the situation, acknowledging that the division of the emirates would also be subject to review. “Those who God made leaders will now decide on the next step and decision to take. They will review it and determine what is the right thing to be done. Apart from the issue of changing the emir, the emirates have now been divided into five. All of that will be reviewed too,” he stated.
He expressed confidence that Governor Yusuf would address these challenges effectively: “We are confident God will give the governor the wisdom to come and resolve the challenges planted in Kano state so that everyone will live peacefully in Kano state.”
As the legislative process unfolds, a proposed amendment to the Emir Appointment Law in Kano State could bring about a major political shift. This change would have profound effects on the traditional emirate system and the regional leadership structure, making it a significant development worth watching.
