KANO State Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo has apologised to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for fingering him in the ongoing Kano emirship dispute.
Gwarzo said during a press briefing that the government had been misled into believing Ribadu was fueling the dispute in the state.
“The Office of the National Security Adviser has refuted the allegations and distanced themselves (sic) from what we have alleged. I have seen it, he has done it through three media, and today, I have seen the one about going to court.
“We have to acknowledge that we have been misled into believing that the NSA was behind the happenings along this line. We apologise to the National Security Adviser, his person and office for any embarrassment and inconveniences this might have caused him. We are human and can err at any time. On my behalf and the Governor of Kano State, I want to assure the NSA of our continued support and cooperation in discharging his duty as the NSA,” Gwarzo said.
The Kano government dethroned five emirs in the state on Thursday, May 23, abolishing the existing five emirates and reviving the single emirate system in the state.
Following the dethronement, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf reinstated Lamido Sanusi, who was dethroned under the previous administration led by Abdullahi Ganduje.
The reinstatement occurred despite a court order restricting the governor from reinstating the former emir.
However, one of the five dethroned emirs, Ado Bayero refused to relinquish his position and returned to the city on Saturday, May 25, in the company of security officials.
Gwarzo told journalists upon Bayero’s return that Ribadu supplied him with soldiers to escort him to the palace, thereby, deepening the existing crisis.
Reacting to the allegations, Ribadu threatened to file a defamation suit against the deputy governor. He demanded a retraction of the allegations and a public apology to which the deputy governor complied.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via vopara@icirnigeria.org or @ije_le on Twitter.