The Kano State government has made a very disturbing revelation about the position of the deposed Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero. In an interview with Arise TV, Kano state government spokesperson Sanusi Bateru disclosed that Ado Bayero was never the Emir of Kano. This follows the court ruling against the reinstatement of Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano.
The Kano State government stated that Emir Ado Bayero was never recognized as the Emir of Kano. Justifying this position, the Kano government spokesperson said Ado Bayero was appointed as the Emir of the eight Metropolitan local governments within Kano city and not for the 44 local governments of the state.
This statement by the Kano government seems to hold much water. After the former governor of Kano State removed Sanusi as the Emir, he divided the emirate into five and gave Ado Bayero power over a part of it, namely eight Metropolitan local governments.
Spokesperson’s Comments on Arise TV
Kano State government spokesman Sanusi Bateru, speaking on Arise TV, made some valid points supporting the action of the present governor of Kano. He said:
“The actions of the governor were to protect the integrity of the emirate as an institution. The Emirate of Kano pre-dates Nigeria and the country’s constitution; it’s over a thousand-year history of people living together under one Emir. The previous administration of Ganduje decided to bastardize that history and take politics into it. So, the politicization of the Emirate is what the Governor promised during his campaign to restore the lost glory of the state, and he’s only fulfilling the campaign promise.”
He further expressed that Bayero should take his deposition in good faith and vacate the Nasarawa mini palace rather than causing chaos in Kano. He said, “This is not the first time an Emir was deposed; Ganduje did it, and Sanusi left Kano for peace to reign. Sanusi is now back in Kano as the 16th Emir after the repeal of the law.”
Lastly, he mentioned that the revision of the law by Abba Yusuf made Bayero’s place as emir non-existent: “I want to make it clear that Aminu Ado Bayero was never an Emir of Kano; he was appointed an Emir of eight metropolitan local governments of Kano city. So, with the revision of the law under one United Kano, the Emirate that Aminu served no longer exists.”
Why It Matters
This revelation is food for thought for Kano citizens and the entire Nigeria who have been following updates on the Emirate tussle. It sets a new dynamic to the whole emirate struggle and a major issue for determination.
Bottom Line
The Kano State government’s clarification about Ado Bayero’s position challenges long-held perceptions about the emirate’s leadership and underlines the complex political maneuvers affecting traditional institutions in Nigeria. The outcome of this tussle will likely have significant implications for the governance and cultural heritage of Kano.
