How Governor Yusuf Reverses Ganduje’s Legacy with Emir of Kano Reinstatement
KANO, Nigeria – Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has signed a bill into law that nullifies the four Emirate Councils created by former Governor Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.
On May 23, 2024, the Kano State House of Assembly passed the bill, which Governor Yusuf promptly approved. The new law, the Kano Emirates Council Law, effectively dismantles the Bichi, Gaya, Rano, and Karaye Emirate Councils established by the previous administration.
This legislation reinstates Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano, with the four Emirs given 48 hours to vacate their positions. Additionally, district heads elevated under the previous law must revert to their former roles.
This legislative move follows numerous predictions and reports, including one from News Band on June 14, 2023, which speculated about Sanusi’s potential reinstatement and the elimination of the new Emirates. The bill was the first task undertaken by the newly inaugurated Kano State House of Assembly on June 13, 2023.
Political analysts had anticipated this change following the 2023 governorship victory of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), led by Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Under Kwankwaso’s administration, Sanusi was initially crowned Emir.
The creation of the new Emirates by former Governor Ganduje in 2019 faced strong opposition, particularly from Kwankwaso, who criticized both Sanusi’s dethronement and the establishment of the new Emirates. In response, the Kano Assembly had previously amended the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Law on May 8, 2019, decentralizing the Kano Emirate Council and reducing Sanusi’s jurisdiction from 44 to 10 local governments before his eventual dethronement and banishment.
In a notable legal development, a High Court in Kano nullified the creation of the four Emirate Councils on November 21, 2019. Justice Usman Na’abba declared the creation of the Emirates and the appointment of the four Emirs illegal. Despite this ruling, Ganduje continued his administrative duties, ignoring the court’s decision.
Governor Yusuf’s recent actions are viewed as an effort to align with his political benefactor, Kwankwaso, by reinstating Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and dismantling Ganduje’s established structure. This reinstatement marks Sanusi II’s return to the throne of the ancient city, five years after his removal and banishment.
