Former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje,
has publicly referred to Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano, in what
observers describe as a surprising gesture of reconciliation after years of
political and traditional rivalry.
The moment occurred during the swearing-in ceremony of
Murtala Sule Garo as deputy governor at the Kano State Government House, where
both men were seen exchanging warm greetings in the presence of top political
and traditional figures.
The gesture is particularly significant given the
long-standing dispute over the Kano emirship. In 2020, during Ganduje’s
administration, Sanusi was dethroned and replaced with Aminu Ado Bayero as the
15th Emir of Kano.
However, in May 2024, the current governor, Abba Kabir
Yusuf, signed the Kano State Emirate Council Repeal Law, which reinstated
Sanusi as the 16th Emir while dissolving additional emirates created under the
previous administration. The decision also removed Bayero and other installed
emirs, triggering ongoing legal disputes over the legitimacy of the throne.
Despite the unresolved court case, Ganduje’s public
recognition of Sanusi is being interpreted as a notable softening of tensions
between both camps.
The event was attended by several prominent figures,
including former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and Senator Barau Jibrin, while the
oath of office was administered by Dije Abdu Aboki in the presence of
lawmakers, traditional rulers, and senior government officials.
Political observers suggest the public handshake and
acknowledgement could signal a gradual easing of hostilities in Kano’s
long-running emirship crisis. They also note that the development may have
broader political implications as alignments begin to form ahead of the 2027
general elections, even as legal proceedings over the emirship remain ongoing.
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