KANO, Nigeria – Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has signed into law a bill nullifying the five Emirates council created by his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and reinstated Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.
The law, passed by the Kano State House of Assembly on Thursday, May 23, 2024, gives the five Emirs 48 hours to vacate their offices.
The newly enacted Kano State Emirate Council Law 2024 technically dethrones Aminu Ado Bayero as Emir of Kano and officially recognises former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as the rightful Emir.
Sanusi’s portrait now adorns the giant wall of the Coronation Hall of Government House in Kano, signaling his return, while Aminu Bayero’s portrait has been removed.
The amendment to the Kano State Emirates Council Law 2024 (1441 A.H) was passed after the bill scaled its third reading on Thursday.
According to the law, “All traditional office holders and title holders elevated or appointed to an office created under the repealed Principal law, dated 5th December 2019 shall revert to their position where such positions previously existed under recognized custom and traditions prior to the enactment of the repealed Principal Law dated 5th December 2019.”
Additionally, the law states, “The Commissioner responsible for Local Government shall oversee all transitional arrangements including how best to deal with assets and liabilities of the abolished emirates and new structure created under the repealed Principal Law dated 5th December 2019.”
Governor Yusuf is expected to make formal announcements following his assent to the law on Thursday.
In a related development, Aminu Bayero reportedly fled the palace and Kano to Ijebu on Wednesday, May 22, and is currently in Ilorin.
Sanusi, who became Emir during the final term of former Governor Kwankwaso, was dethroned by outgoing Governor Ganduje and banished to Loko, a remote community in Nasarawa State, on March 9, 2020.
His administration faced an investigation into the expenses of the Kano emirate.
The Ganduje administration had previously added four new emirates, Bichi, Karaye, Rano, and Gaya, making a total of five First Class Emirs including Kano.
However, the present state Assembly on Thursday “abolished” all the new emirates created by the former governor.
Governor Abba Yusuf’s decision marks a significant shift in the traditional leadership structure of Kano State, aiming to restore the emirate system to its previous status before the 2019 law was enacted.
