The fall and fall of Sanusi

Nigerians woke up on the 9th of March 2020 to be confronted with yet another sack news of Sanusi  Lamido Sanusi, the 14th Emir of Kano.

The Kano State government had announced the dethronement and subsequent banishment of Emir Sanusi thus sending him to exile in far away Nassarawa State.

The dethronement of Sanusi as an emir was not the first time the cerebral economist and sagacious technocrat will be confronted with issue of an abrupt end of an era. Sanusi had in 2014 faced such an ordeal when he was suspended by the government of Dr. Ebele Jonathan as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). For some analysts, it’s the case of falling and fail of Sanusi. Not even the efforts of the Kaduna State government to rescue him courtesy of a board appointment could put a formidable wedge to the sliding of the fame of Sanusi.

Born into the Fulani royal family, Lamido Sanusi became the 14th Emir of Kano in 2014 after the death of Ado Bayero and not shy about voicing his opinions, which some say is a break with the tradition that an emir be seen and not heard.

Former, Managing Director of First Bank, Sanusi, an erstwhile Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), became the governor of the apex bank in 2009, and was sacked in 2014 after revealing that $20billion in oil revenue had gone missing.

His whistle-blowing over $20 billion (£12bn) allegedly missing from the state oil company caused a storm that led to his suspension by then President Goodluck Jonathan. The government denied that any money was missing.

Kano State Government Monday dethroned the embattled Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, over what it described as disrespect of lawful instructions from Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State and other lawful authorities.

The dethronement of the Emir followed the decision of the State Council Executive, SEC, meeting presided over by the governor. A new Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, was immediately appointed by the state government as the 15th Emir of Kano to replace the deposed Sanusi. Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, who announced the dethronement of the Emir, said the monarch was in total disrespect of lawful instructions from office of the governor, hence his immediate dethronement. The SSG said: “Kano State Executive Council, under the chairmanship of the

 Last month, he said fathers who sent their children out to beg for alms should be arrested.

In the past he criticized what he described as the “ultra-conservative interpretation of Islam” in some parts of northern Nigeria that has discouraged the education of girls, family planning and other progressive policies.

In 2013, he was awarded a special award at the Global Islamic Finance Awards for his role in promoting Islamic banking and finance in Nigeria

In the mid-1990s he quit a well-paid job as banking risk manager to deepen his knowledge of Arabic and Islamic studies by going to study in Sudan.

Long before he became emir, he opposed the adoption of Islamic law in some northern states, arguing that there were more pressing issues that needed to be dealt with.

Mr. Sanusi challenged the suspension in court but was still sacked from the role. He later withdrew the court case.

Critics say he has a holier-than-thou attitude and have wondered why he refused to appear before the panel investigating corruption allegations against him.

Incumbent governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has unanimously approved the immediate removal/dethronement of the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II. “

The Emir of Kano is in total disrespect of lawful instructions from the office of the state governor and other lawful authorities, including his refusal to attend official meetings and programmes organized by the government without any justification which amounts to total insubordination.

“It is on record and in so many instances, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II has been found breaching part 3 section 13 (a-e) of the Kano State Emirate Law 2019 and which if left unchecked, will destroy the good and established image of the Kano Emirate.

 “This removal is made after due consultation with the relevant stakeholders and in compliance with part 3 section 13 of the Kano State Emirate law and other reasons stated above. “The removal is reached in order to safeguard the sanctity, culture, tradition, religion and prestige of Kano Emirate built over a thousand years. “His Excellency, Dr. Ganduje calls on the general public to remain calm, law abiding and to go about their normal businesses.’’ Sources from the government who begged for anonymity, said the deposed Emir Sanusi had been moved to Nasarawa State. New Emir appointed

Announcing the appointment of the new Emir, the SSG said: “Following the resolution emanating from the State Executive Council today (yesterday) and the recommendation by kingmakers of Kano Emirate and the approval of appointment of the new Emir of Kano, the 9th day of March 2020, with regards to the deposition of the former Emir, in my capacity as the Secretary to the State Government, I have been directed by the executive governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, based on the powers conferred on him by the provision of section 11(1) of the Kano State Emirate Council Law 2019, that is equivalent to 1441 AH, to announce the appointment of Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the former Emir of Bichi Emirate, as the new Emir of Kano Emirate. He is the 15th Emir of the Fulani in the Kano Emirate.

“This followed the recommendation received from the Kano kingmakers to the Executive governor of Kano State. As you can see, the four king makers are all here seated with us.” Emir Sanusi ascended the throne on June 8, 2014, following the death of al-Haji Ado Bayero, who reigned from 1963 till his death in 2014. Upon his emergence as emir, he played key roles in the major shift in elite configuration in the state.

He was also instrumental in the formation of the Northern Peoples Congress, NPC, where he brought many groups into the NPC. Indeed, Sanusi I was charismatic, politically sound and influential in the northern region. He stood firmly against injustice and oppression, seizing moments to condemn any of such acts.

However, trouble began when most of the senior members of the NPC in Kaduna resented his influence. This resentment led to the instituting of a commission of inquiry into the finances of the Kano native authority under Sanusi I. A probe panel was set up and members of the native authority testified before D. J. M. Muffet, the sole commissioner.

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