National Telescope national telescope newspaper
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the re-enthroned Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Lamido Sanusi, will lead the Jumah prayer at either the Kano Central Mosque or the Government House mosque in Kano today, Friday, May 24, 2024.
Salatul-Jumu’ah, or Friday Prayer, is a congregational prayer offered in place of Zuhr and is held weekly on Fridays.
Sanusi, a respected Islamic scholar, has returned to the throne exactly four years and 75 days after his initial removal. He first ascended the throne on June 8, 2014.
“With the full support of the kingmakers, I have approved the reappointment of Malam Sanusi Lamido,” Governor Abba Yusuf announced at the Art Chamber of the Government House in Kano at approximately 5:16 PM on Thursday.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor is returning not only as a leading traditional ruler in the country but also as the influential Emir of Kano, now the sole Emir in the state.
Recall that Alhaji Abdulahi Ganduje, currently the APC National Chairman, implemented significant changes during his eight-year tenure as governor of Kano State, particularly in chieftaincy matters.
In 2019, the House of Assembly approved the creation of four additional emirate councils, increasing the number of First-Class Emirs in the state to five.
Besides creating new emirate councils, Alhaji Muhammadu Lamido Sanusi was removed as Emir of Kano on March 9, 2020, during Ganduje’s administration.
After Sanusi’s removal, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, who was then serving as the Emir of Bichi, was appointed as the new Emir of Kano.
The new councils established by the Ganduje administration included the Gaya, Karaye, Rano, and Bichi Emirate Councils.
Alhaji Lamido Sanusi had not only opposed the creation of new emirate councils but also filed a lawsuit against the state government, which was then led by Alhaji Abdulahi Ganduje, as well as against the house of assembly.
Justice A. T. Badamasi of the state high court had, at one point, issued an order restraining the then-governor from creating these now-defunct emirate councils.
After passing the third reading, the Kano State House of Assembly on Thursday approved the Kano Emirates Council Law (Repeal Bill) 2024. This new bill, which has been signed into law by Governor Abba Yusuf, nullifies the creation of the four new emirate councils in the state.
It should be recalled that a group known as Yan Dangwalen Jihar Kano (the Kano Electorate) had sent a letter to the Kano State House of Assembly dated February 5, 2024, requesting a review of the bill that had established the Gaya, Rano, Karaye, and Bichi emirate councils. They also demanded the reinstatement of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II to the throne.
