The Kano State House of Assembly on Tuesday revealed that it had begun a legislative process to amend the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law amidst calls for the return of the deposed 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi.
It was learnt that the lawmakers resolved to amend the law after the Majority Leader and member representing the Dala constituency, Hussien Dala, moved the motion during plenary, Daily Trust reports.
The law was first amended in 2019 during the rift between then-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Sanusi, a former Central Bank Governor.
The first amendment had broken the Kano emirate into five different emirates with the creation of Rano, Karaye, Gaya and Bichi Emirates, and the appointment of First Class Emirs for the new emirates, eventually culminating in the deposition of then Emir of Kano.
However, the victory of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf during the 2023 general election, whose one of the campaign promises include the restoration of the old Kano Emirate system, renewed the call for the reinstatement of Emir Sanusi.
Before Governor Yusuf was inaugurated, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), the ruling party in Kano, had assured that the issue of the emirates would be reviewed.
“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 had said.
He continued: “We as elders in the movement will continue to advice them to do things that are proper. We tried not to talk about whether the Emir would be removed or not, but now you see, the opportunity is there.
“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. When a leader comes into power whether in a country, state or local government area, he inherits things that are good and things that are difficult and challenging.
“We are confident God will give the governor (Abba Kabir Yusuf) the wisdom to come and resolve the challenges planted in Kano state so that everyone will live peacefully in Kano state.”
