Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 16th Emir of Kano, has addressed the ongoing conflict between himself and the deposed Emir, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero,Daily Trust reports.
Both Emirs are asserting their claim to the throne. Sanusi was reinstated by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, while Bayero is challenging his dethronement in court.
Governor Yusuf deposed Bayero and four other Emirs, demanding they relinquish power within 48 hours.
However, Bayero, who was out of Kano when the order was issued, returned and moved into the mini palace in Nasarawa.
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Angered by this, Governor Yusuf ordered Bayero’s immediate arrest.
The 15th Emir of Kano has taken legal action to challenge Yusuf’s decision. Bayero has also requested the court to annul the law used by the governor to depose him and reinstate Sanusi.
In an interview with Saturday Sun, Sanusi remarked that those who benefited from the previous system feel aggrieved because they have been removed.
Although he did not directly mention Ado Bayero, it was evident he was referring to him and others affected by the repealed law.
Sanusi said, “What we are dealing with is a situation where somebody divided us. When privileges are given, some people enjoy them. They didn’t ask for it, but they’ve enjoyed it for four years.
“Now when they lose it, it’s a problem. But the problem is not what has happened today; it is what happened four years ago. If it had not been done, we would not be in this situation today. We are one family, we are one people. Someone divided us, took one emirate, and gave it to a part of the family. Now, when people enjoy it for four years and you take it away, it becomes a problem.
“When Ganduje wanted to create these Emirates, he couldn’t find a law to amend. He started by amending the Emirates Appointment and Deposition Law, which the court struck down. So, he had to create a new law and new emirates from nothing.
“There was something called a Kano Emirate with eight local governments. That emirate had not existed in our thousand-year history. The same applies to the Bichi Emirate, Rano Emirate, and Gaya Emirate. None of them existed in a thousand years of history.
“They held the positions for four years, and a new governor came and said we must address this attack on our system and history. He argued that we cannot, in the interest of preserving a four-year history, abolish a thousand-year history. He said, let’s return to the original order.
“That was all that happened. It was not targeted at any individual or family. But naturally, those who benefited from this change would feel hurt, and we understand that. It is not their fault. However, we cannot allow this to continue just to avoid hurting them.
“Managing this situation is our collective responsibility as citizens of Kano and members of the royal family. We must see the bigger picture and recognize that these actions were taken to restore the glory of our emirate and protect our history and customs. For me, even now that I am here, only God knows how long I will be here. I could die tomorrow.”
