THE candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the February 25 presidential election and former governor of Kano state, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has said the incoming administration in the state would review the dethronement of Muhammadu Sanusi, the 14th emir of Kano.
Sanusi was appointed during the administration of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso after his removal as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in April 2014 following his allegation that some people stole $49 billion during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
But the outgoing governor in the state deposed him on March 9, 2020 over allegation of insubordination and banished him to Awe in Nasarawa state, an action that the Federal High Court in Abuja would declare in November 2021 as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.
Speaking in a viral video seen today, Kwankwaso said Sanusi’s dethronement would be reviewed by the incoming administration of the governor-elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf, a member of the NNPP.
“We have campaigned, and as you know, we are popular in Nigeria, especially in Kano state. We are now back and God willing, we will continue with the good works our administration left. This incoming governor and his team will take them up,” Kwankwaso said in the video.
He added, “As elders, we will continue to advise them to do the right thing. We tried not to intervene in the issue of bringing or removing any Emir, but now, an opportunity has come.
“Those who were given this opportunity will sit down and see to the issues. They will look at what they are expected to do. Beside the Emir, even the emirate has been divided into five places. All these need to be studied. Usually, a leader inherits good, bad and issues that are hard to reconcile.”
Ganduje had claimed that Sanusi’s appointment was to spite Jonathan and he removed him to save the system and the traditional institution from abuse.
He also faulted Sanusi’s public outburst over missing funds, saying the ex-CBN governor ought to have discussed the matter privately with the former president, who in turn could have directed an investigation into the allegation.
Sanusi had accepted his dethronement as “an act of destiny.”
Declaring his banishment as unconstitutional, the court awarded him N10 million compensation against the respondents comprising the police, the State Security Service (SSS) and the Attorney-General of Kano State.
It also ordered them to tender a public apology to him in two national dailies.
Nurudeen Akewushola is an investigative reporter and fact-checker with The ICIR. He believes courageous in-depth investigative reporting is the key to social justice, accountability and good governance in society. You can reach him via nyahaya@icirnigeria.org and @NurudeenAkewus1 on Twitter.