In a surprising turn of events, the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.
This decision comes after a tumultuous period that saw Sanusi’s dethronement in 2020 and the subsequent creation of five new emirates in the state.
On Friday, Governor Yusuf officially presented Sanusi with his letter of reinstatement at the Government House in Kano. “By the powers conferred on me by the Kano Emirate Council Law of 1984 and 2024, and supported by the recommendation of the kingmakers, I have the singular pleasure of confirming the reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and the head of the Kano Emirate Council,” the governor announced.
Yusuf cited Sanusi’s “competence, credibility and popularity” as the primary reasons for his reappointment, urging the new Emir to “be guided by the principles of Islamic teachings and to use his position to unite the emirate, fostering harmony among the Islamic sects in the state.”
The road to Sanusi’s reinstatement has been a tumultuous one. In 2020, he had a falling out with the then-governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, leading to the Kano House of Assembly passing a bill to split the Kano Emirate Council, which was under Sanusi’s control, into five separate emirates. This effectively reduced Sanusi’s influence, and he was subsequently dethroned and replaced by Aminu Ado Bayero.
However, on Thursday, May 23, 2024, the Kano State House of Assembly took a decisive step, dissolving all five newly created emirate councils and passing the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024, which replaced the previous 2019 law. This paved the way for Sanusi’s reinstatement.
In his remarks, Governor Yusuf acknowledged that Sanusi had been “victimized” when he was initially dethroned, and that his restoration was in the best interest of the people of Kano State. “We all feel that we must restore what is due to the good people of the state,” he said.
The reinstatement ceremony was attended by traditional rulers, kingmakers, and other prominent dignitaries, signaling a new era for the Kano Emirate Council.
