What Next For Governor Ganduje Of Kano As Court Sacks New Emirs, Dissolves Established Emirates

Governor Ganduje (left) Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (right)

The Kano Emirate which is arguably the most powerful Emirate in Nigeria have been faced with an imminent decline as the governor of the state Governor Abdullahi Ganduje against established rules went ahead to create four new Emirates on Wednesday 8 May 2019. This was clearly in a quest to disgrace and reduce the powers of the then sitting Emir of Kano State Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who had been vocal in criticizing the state government’s corrupt practices and who also did not hide his support for the PDP candidate during the 2019 election which was rife with violence and massive unpretentious riggings leading ultimately to Ganduje’s questionable emergence as the governor of Kano State reelected for the second time.

Governor Ganduje has a reputation for lack of forgiveness. Immediately after he secured his second term in office, he set determinately to deal with Emir Sanusi and the first step was to weaken the throne on which Sanusi sat. To do this he simply created four new Emirates in Kano State which were to share power with the Emir of Kano. This new Emirates were in Biche, Karaya, Gaya and Rano local Government Areas of Kano State. As if that was not enough, Governor Ganduje in a further quest to humiliate the Emir of Kano, supervised the forceful removal of the Emir in what is seen to be a most unfortunate situation triggered by mere personal sentiments.

With the exit of Emir Sanusi who was exiled to Nasarawa State, however, the case in court challenging the establishment of the four new Emirates by the Governor of Kano State did not cease. The court case which lasted for Months did not get a final judgement until Thursday 30th April 2020 when a High Court sitting in Kano State delivered a verdict on the matter.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State

Daily Tribune, a widely read Nigerian News reported on Thursday 30th April 2020 that a Court sitting in Kano nullified the creation of the Emirates and immediately sacked the Emirs who were appointed to sit on the thrones of those Emirates describing their appointments as illegal.

While delivering the Judgement on Thursday in Kano, Justice Usman Na’aba stated that the the creation of the Emirates and the appointment of the Emirs was illegal and unacceptable.

Successor of Emir Sanusi

The Suit against the creation of the Emirates was instituted by Muhammad Nasir a former House of Assembly member representing Gwarzo constituency against the Kano State Government.