TheCable

Rabiu Kwankwaso, chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), says he did not influence the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano.

Sanusi became the 14th Emir of Kano in 2014 after the death of Ado Bayero. He was turbaned during the administration of Kwankwaso, then governor of the state.

However, Sanusi was dethroned in 2020 by Abdullahi Ganduje, Kwankwaso’s successor, over allegations of insubordination.

Aminu Bayero, son of the late Bayero and Emir of Bichi, was installed as Sanusi’s replacement.

On Thursday, the Kano state assembly repealed the law which was used to unseat Sanusi and balkanise the Kano emirate into five jurisdictions.

Consequently, Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, announced the reinstatement of Sanusi as emir after signing the new Kano Emirate Council Law.

Speaking with the BBC Hausa, on Friday, Kwankwaso said he has no hand in Sanusi’s reinstatement.

The former govenor said he would inquire about the development when he visits the state.

“I will go to Kano very soon and I will speak with some of the assembly members, especially the speaker, and the governor on what is happening,” Kwankwaso said.

In April 2023, Kwankwaso had said the incoming government would revisit Sanusi’s dethronement.

“Apart from the issue of changing the emir, the emirates have now been divided into five. All of that will be reviewed too. When a leader comes into power whether in a country, state or local government area, he inherits things that are good and things that are difficult and challenging,” Kwankwaso said at the time.

Speaking with BBC, Kwankwaso clarified his previous statement, saying he did not dictate what should be done.

“Rabiu Kwankwaso has burnt his hands over dictating what to do. We are still with the governor working together. It’s just a matter of offering advice and if you are not asked to, you keep quiet so long things are going right we just pray and hope that they succeed,” he said.

“When I said we will revisit the case, I didn’t say the direction to follow. I just said it would be reviewed. When I go there (Kano), I will hear what happened and I am sure they will tell me whatever happened and whatever they tell me, we just pray for them. I heard the assembly members have repealed the law.

“What we were telling them was they should go and investigate whether what happened was done out of goodwill or not. What happened appears to be a vendetta or cheating. It’s just a matter of did Ganduje do right or wrong. It’s not about going against him.”