Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has expressed profound gratitude to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the members of the House of Assembly for his reinstatement, heralding it as a significant act that has preserved the rich history of Kano State and Nigeria as a whole.
The reinstatement ceremony took place at the Africa House, Kano Government House, on Friday.
Sanusi, while receiving his reinstatement letter from Governor Yusuf, remarked that his return to the throne is a testament to the divine orchestration of leadership. “No man can take what God has given,” he affirmed, highlighting the belief that all events are preordained by God.
“The Arabians used to say in everything that we are going to witness, there is a lesson that shows us that God is there. Whatever is happening to an individual is preordained by Allah and to those that are sensible enough, it’s a lesson,” Sanusi said. He emphasized that God alone has the authority to bestow or revoke leadership roles.
Reflecting on his journey, Sanusi recounted, “About 10 years ago, in this same place former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso gave me my appointment letter as the Emir of Kano. Today, after 10 years, I am here again receiving a reappointment letter by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.”
Sanusi underscored the historical significance of his reinstatement, stating, “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 1000 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 1000 years, there has been no case like what happened now.”
Sanusi also commented on the political fragmentation of emirates in the northern part of Nigeria, lamenting how some states have seen a proliferation of emirates, which he believes undermines the traditional system. “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,” he said.
He warned against a similar fate for Kano, saying, “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.”