…says, nobody can take what God has given
The re-instated Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, on Friday, had a public outing when he led Jumat prayers at the Government House after he had been given his letter of appointment by the state governor, Governor Abba Yusuf.
In a fit of fulfilment, the former CBN governor remarked: “God gives leadership to whom he wants and at the time he wants. When He gives, no one can take it away and when he takes it away, nobody can take it back,” he said.
Governor Yusuf said Sanusi’s re-instatement was meant to correct the error which he described as victimization in 2019 and eventuated in his dethronement in 2020.
“In everything that we are going to witness, there is a lesson that shows us that God is there,” he added.
“Whatever is happening to an individual is preordained by Allah, and to those who are sensible enough, it’s a lesson,” the king said.
“God is one and whatever He does, nobody can change and what He doesn’t do, nobody can.
“Time will not permit for long talks. Whatever we will say, we have said it when we were leaving.
“We made it clear that God has preordained time and cause for everything and everyone. He gave leadership to whom he wanted and at the time he wanted.
While addressing the governor and members of the State House of Assembly, Sanusi said: “My governor and our assembly members, you will not understand the gravity of what you did for the history of Kano and the country at large. Among Kano Emirs, it started from Bagauda over 1,000 years ago. In this year, it was once that we had Emir Muhammadu Koguna who was overthrown and he came back after some days. This shows that in 1,000 years, there has been no case like what happened now.”
“In the northern part of this country, we have seen it in different states how politicians balkanised emirates with a state with one Emir becoming 20, some 19. In states of northern Nigeria, there are local governments with two or three first-class emirs all because the system has been destroyed.
“This thing that has been brought to Kano, had it been it was allowed, one day we will wake up with Emir of Kumbotso, Bichi, Fagge and 44 Emirs. So what the government and the assembly did is a rescue mission,” Sanusi stressed.
Governor Yusuf explains Sanusi’s reinstatement
Governor Yusuf government’s decision to re-instate the Emir was against the background of his conviction that he (Sanusi) was victimised in 2019 when he was dethroned.
“So, we had a feeling that we had to bring back what is due to the good people of the state and by doing that, the bill was signed around after 5pm and there was no problem,” the governor said.
“We signed the bill into law and it has become our law; nobody will change it,” he added.
He said his decision was guided by a collective and careful judgment about his (Sanusi’s) confidence, credibility and proven intellect.
He added that by the grace of Allah, at this trying period of the emirate, the Emir would deploy his wealth of experience to provide the required visionary and purposeful leadership to reunite and rebuild the traditional institution.
He said: “Yesterday (Thursday) we gathered here in Government House and had a series of meetings with the kingmakers. We also had extensive discussions with the Speaker and members of the State House of Assembly. We also had time to sit with the heads of security agencies in the state.
“At the end of the day, we all sat down at that chamber, where I received the bill that repealed the former law and I signed the bill into law.
“By the powers conferred on me by the Kano State Emirates Council of Chiefs, the Kano State Appointment and Deposition Law of 1984, in consonance with the Kano State Emirate Council Repealed Law 2024 and supported by the recommendation of the Kano State Emirates Council kingmakers who are here with us, I, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State have the singular pleasure to confirm the appointment of Sanusi Lamido Aminu Sanusi as the 16th emir of Kano and the head of Kano emirates council.”
Governor Yusuf thanked the Speaker and the State Assembly members for their “doggedness, commitment and respect for the rule of law.”
He said the lawmakers’ cooperation in Sanusi’s reinstatement was a portrayal of their interest in the welfare of the people of the state.
While explaining some narratives concerning Sanusi’s return, the governor said: “Sanusi’s reinstatement was delayed because due process was being followed. According to the new law, “all traditional office holders and title holders elevated or appointed to office created under the repealed Principal Law, dated 5th December, 2019 shall revert to their position where such positions previously existed under recognised custom and traditions prior to the enactment of the repealed Principal Law dated 5th December, 2019.”
He added: “It is not a new stool; neither is Sanusi a new emir. The king has only returned home to his throne after it was balkanised. It has all along been his throne.”
The governor said Kano was peaceful and calm, and he appealed to the people to go about their businesses.
He said that Sanusi would, yesterday, return to his lodge with members of his emirate council after the Jumat prayers to continue with the business of the emirate council.
He charged the emir, an Islamic scholar, to use his wisdom to unite all the Islamic sects in the state.
As soon as he received his appointment letter and confirmation as Emir of Kano, all the district heads and senior council chiefs bowed and paid allegiance to him at the Africa House.
