Amid tight security: Sanusi moves into palace •How Sultan brokered •FG attacks Kano gov over crisis

 

FORMER governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on Friday, finally moved into his palace, almost a week after he became the 14th Emir of Kano. 

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His emergence was announced last Saturday, while he assumed duties after receiving his letter appointment on Monday at the Kano State Government House, Kano. 

It was gathered that the police, on Thursday, ceased their siege to the palace, which began on Monday in the wake of protests by some youths who were reportedly opposed to the appointment of the former CBN boss as the new emir.

However, on Friday, the traditional ruler moved from the government house, where he had been operating since Monday, to his palace.

A source attributed Sanusi’s eventual entry into the palace to the intervention of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and other prominent traditional rulers in the North in the tussle that had trailed his appointment.

The top traditional rulers were said to have brokered a truce between the new emir and the aggrieved parties within the Kano emirate.

The emir was accompanied on his way from the government house by district heads, including the Wambai Kano, Abbas Sanusi, but none of the sons of the late emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero, who are also district heads, was in the entourage.

Sanusi was led to the palace by Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso’s Special Adviser on Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Tijani Mailafiya, amid tight security in a jeep that was used by his predecessor, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

Emir Sanusi arrived in the palace at exactly 4.30 p.m. amid cheers and jubilation from crowds that were on hand to welcome him.

When his convoy reached the palace, Sanusi alighted from the jeep that brought him and mounted a horse which promptly marched into the palace through the Kofa Kudu.

As is tradition, before the new emir made his way into the palace, three walls were collapsed and were instantly rebuilt by palace guards amid chants and songs by his subjects. 

Gunshots were fired and traditional trumpets blown to herald the arrival of the emir at the palace.

Before he entered to the palace, Sanusi visited the burial chamber where he offered prayers for the repose of the souls of his predecessors.

He was received into the palace by the four kingmakers, Alhaji Yusuf Nabahani (the Madakin Kano), Alhaji Sarki Abdullahi (the Makaman Kano), Alhaji Bello Tuta (the Sarki Dawaki Mai-Tuta) and the Sarki Bai, Alhaji Mukhtar Adnan.

Also on Sanusi’s entourage to the palace were title holders, the state deputy governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje; senior counsellor of the emirate, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, among others. 

According to findings, notable emirs in the North were not happy with the way politics was impacting on the appointment of the new emir and had desired quick measures to nip the situation in the bud to avoid any embarrassment to the traditional institution in the region.

A source hinted that a meeting where a final truce will be finally brokered will hold soon at a neutral ground, possibly Kaduna, which is regarded as the administrative centre of the North since after the colonial era.

The source said the decision to hold the meeting outside Kano was to accommodate politicians from the opposition who might not buy the idea of attending a meeting at the government house, where the new emir of Kano was then residing.

He said the move was to avert a similar situation which proved fatal during the administration of the late governor of the old Kano State, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, involving the late Emir Ado Bayero.

He stated further that the letters of invitation to the meeting would be sent by the Sultan through his office to the various parties expected at the meeting.

FG tackles Kwankwaso over Kano crisisTHE Federal Government has told the Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop casting aspersions on imaginary enemies and explain to the people of Kano their roles in the emergence of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano and the imbroglio that followed. 

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, on Friday through a statement by his Press Secretary, Joseph Mutah, noted that the selection of successors to other traditional institutions in other parts of the North in recent years had not witnessed the kind of public anger, protests and violence that greeted the exercise conducted by Kwankwaso at the Government House in Kano.

Maku, who described as desperate and paranoid, the alleged campaign of calumny by Kwankwaso against the Federal Government and President Goodluck Jonathan, noted that it was a known fact that the appointment of traditional rulers is within the purview of state governments, and expressed surprise that Kwankwaso chose to drag the name of the president into the succession crisis rocking the Kano emirate. 

Maku said, “The recent outbursts of Kwankwaso have lent credence to observations in some quarters that the governor is now afraid of his own shadow as the people of Kano become increasingly impatient with his years of one-man rule under which he imposes his will on the state in total disregard to the wishes of the people of Kano. 

“His altercations with the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, shortly before the emir’s death is a case in point. Governor Kwankwaso has no respect for anyone – not even for the traditional institution of his own state. After the recent denial of freedom of choice for the people of Kano by imposing local government chairmen and councillors on them, he then took on the late Kano monarch shortly before his demise. 

“Governor Kwankwaso, as is well known to the public, then went on a highly politicised selection process, turning the ascension to the throne of Kano into a partisan political enterprise during which prominent APC leaders and some governors moved to Kano reportedly to influence the outcome. 

“The result is the outpouring of anger and protests in the ancient city of Kano with unfortunate breakdown of law and order. Governor Kwankwaso is, therefore, singularly responsible for the violence in his state.  

“The police authorities in the light of the violent opposition to the highly political selection process for the new Emir of Kano only helped to restore law and order and to protect the historic palace of the throne of Kano from being razed or destroyed by irate and aggrieved people of Kano.

“To turn round to blame President Jonathan or the Federal Government for the crisis is the height of delusion and irresponsibility on the part of Governor Kwankwaso. He is the architect of the crisis and violence; and if he has a conscience, he should examine his role in all this unfortunate and needless crisis he has plunged the ancient city of Kano and its respected traditional institution into in recent weeks. 

“The latest claim by Governor Kwankwaso is wild and outlandish and does not fit into the character of President Jonathan or the Federal Government of Nigeria under this president. 

“We urge the people of Kano to remain peaceful and law-abiding and shun recourse to violence in spite of the highhandedness of Governor Kwankwaso and his associates.

“Governor Kwankwaso should face the anger of his people and leave President Jonathan and the Federal Government alone.”

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