Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, on Thursday announced the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano.
The announcement came shortly after Governor Yusuf signed the new Kano Emirate Council Law 2024 at the Government House in Kano on Thursday, May 23.
Sanusi, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, was dethroned by the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in March 2020.
Ganduje had created four additional emirates, fracturing the traditional Kano Emirate. The newly passed law dissolved these emirates and restored the emirate to its original pre-2019 structure.
Governor Yusuf’s decision also included the dethronement of Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and four other first-class emirs established under the previous administration.
The sacked monarchs were given 48 hours to hand over their responsibilities to the deputy governor and vacate their palaces.
“With the full support of the kingmakers, I have approved the reappointment of Malam Sanusi Lamido,” Governor Yusuf announced to applause at the Art Chamber of the Kano State Government House at 5:16 p.m. on Thursday.
The newly enacted Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024 replaces the 2019 law that divided the Kano Emirate into five, a move that had generated significant controversy.
Governor Yusuf described the reversal as a restoration of the over 1,000-year-old Kano Emirate, nullifying all appointments made under the 2019 law.
“The repeal of the 2019 law means that there is no emir in Kano as of now except the reinstated emir,” Yusuf stated.
Muhammadu Sanusi II, who began his reign on June 8, 2014, during the tenure of Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, was appointed less than four months after being removed as Central Bank Governor by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Sanusi’s tenure as Emir saw him clash with Governor Ganduje over allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption within the state government.
The reinstatement of Sanusi II is seen as a significant move by Governor Yusuf, aiming to restore the traditional heritage of Kano and address the contentious division of the emirate imposed by his predecessor.
