The appointment of a king has traditionally been the exclusive responsibility of the kingmakers in all traditional systems. However, the Nigerian political system seems to have a different perspective in this regard. Political interference has affected our system so profoundly that kingship is now being regulated by the government. A cultural heritage that should be purely based on cultural etiquette has become a stage for political authority to assert its power.
This seems to be the context in the reinstatement of the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Background
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (SLS) was ousted by the former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, on the pretext of disrespecting government instructions and preserving the cultural heritage of the Kano emirate system. However, this was seen as a guise to remove a “culture-political” authority that was becoming a thorn in Ganduje’s administration. SLS had vehemently condemned and opposed the Ganduje administration in Kano, causing friction between the emirate and the government. This friction led to his removal from authority by the governor.
The ousted Emir has now been reinstated by the incumbent administration of Governor Kabir Abba Yusuf, with which he purportedly has an alliance.
Political Implications
This political situation raises questions about the integrity of our traditional system. A once prestigious institution has become subject to the whims and caprices of the government. This case places traditional institutions in a more difficult position, as governors, following precedent, can now displace a sitting monarch who does not align with their political ideologies and instate a monarch who does. This makes the already fragile institution, weakened by the legacy of British colonial rule, even more vulnerable.
In the case of His Majesty, the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, with his audacious voice, had boldly opposed the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration, yet he was not reported to have said any ill word against the Buhari administration. The same was evident with the Kwankwaso and Ganduje administrations in Kano; his obvious interference and political partisanship made the emirate a target for power-intoxicated government officials.
With this problem in view, various questions come to mind: Could the demoralization of traditional authorities be due to their interference with government administration? Should traditional authorities be partisan? Since there is no definite authority given to traditional rulers, they are recognized as institutional figureheads with no real power, should their interference in politics be considered an aberration and an overstepping of boundaries?
Bottom Line
The reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II as Emir of Kano underscores the troubling intersection of traditional authority and political power in Nigeria. It highlights the extent to which political maneuvering can undermine cultural heritage, turning what should be a purely traditional process into a politically charged affair. This situation calls for a re-evaluation of the role of political authorities in traditional institutions to preserve the integrity and cultural significance of kingship in Nigeria.
