Victor EzejaFormer Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the deployment of soldiers in Kano by the Federal Government amid the ongoing tussle over the Emirate.
The dethronement of His Majesty Aminu Ado Bayero and the subsequent reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir, has created tension in the state. Ado Bayero returned to Kano on Saturday morning fuelling concerns about imminent fracas as his supporters insisted that he must return to the throne.
Atiku in a statement posted on his official X handle, claimed that the deployment of soldiers in Kano by the Federal Government would cause an upset to peace and security of the state and also a breach of the 1999 Constitution as Amended.
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The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), presidential candidate in the 2023 general election argued that the Kano State House of Assembly followed the constitutional procedure by amending and passing the Kano State Emirate Council Bill 2024 which repealed the 2019 version of the law, split the ancient Kano Emirate into five, and the state Governor, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf subsequently signed the bill into law.
“The foregoing circumstances happened within the confines of the law and in compliance with the powers conferred on the Governor as provided by Section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended; and also in consultation with the Kingmakers of Kano, reappointed Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (also known as Muhammadu Sanusi II) as the 16th Emir of Kano State and accordingly handed him a letter of appointment,” Atiku argued.
The former vice president accused the Federal Government of backing the deposed Emir, Ado Bayero with “Federal might”, hence his return to the Nasarawa Palace of the Kano Emirate while the reappointed Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II was at the Gidan Dabo, which is the main residence of the Emir of Kano.
Atiku reminded Tinubu’s administration that Kano has been known for peace for thousands of years, adding that when Sanusi was deposed in 2019, he quietly left and never caused chaos.
“We need to remind the Tinubu administration that Kano State is known for peace and harmony spanning thousands of years, and any attempt to destabilise the peace of the Land of Commerce shall be resisted. Recall that when Muhammadu Sanusi II was dethroned on 9th March 2020, Kano forged on in peace without any fracas,” Atiku stated.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
