May 26, (THEWILL)- The initial calm that welcomed the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi 11 as the 16th Emir of Kano by Governor Abba Yusuf was ruptured on Saturday morning after the deposed Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, returned to the ancient city amid show of support by his associates and subjects, prompting the government to order the police to arrest him “for creating tension in the state.”
To douse the building tension, security chiefs have held separate meetings with Governor Yusuf and Emir Lamido Sanusi Lamido at the Emir’s palace and Emir Aminu Ado Bayero at another location, where he relocated since his arrival in Kano Saturday morning.
Both meetings were held following the royal tussle which engulfed the state since Thursday when the governor signed into law the bill passed by the House of Assembly to repeal Kano Emirates Council law which immediate past Governor Abdullahi Ganduje used to dethrone Sanusi.
Earlier, the governor’s spokesman, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, accused the former Emir of arriving in Kano City on Saturday “in an attempt to forcefully return to the palace two days after being deposed by the Governor.”
He confirmed that the new Emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had entered his palace in the company of Governor Yusuf, his Deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Jibrin Falgore, and other top government functionaries at about 1 a.m. on Saturday.
“As the Chief Security Officer of the state, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest the deposed Emir with immediate effect for disturbing public peace and attempting to destroy the relative peace the state enjoys”, the statement said.
Other sources said Bayero arrived in Kano early on Saturday through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
His waiting supporters immediately swarmed him, and started chanting a verse from Surah Al-Fatihah in the Holy Qur’an.
The former Emir reportedly contemplated returning to his palace but shelved the idea, as the reinstalled Lamido Sanusi had already entered the royal house much earlier.
Thus, Bayero retreated to Gidan Sarkin Nasarawa, the next most important house in the Kano Emirate.
In his response to the developments, Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, accused the immediate past Governor of the state, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, of using the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to create chaos in the state by “smuggling” the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, into the state.
Gwarzo made the allegation on Saturday while addressing newsmen at the Emir’s palace, Kano.
He alleged that Ganduje, with the support of the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), brought in the dethroned Emir in a chartered flight on Saturday.
“It is unfortunate that the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, is using the National Security Adviser to create tension in the state, by smuggling the former Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, into the state.
“The appointment and dethronement of Emir or any traditional title holder is the sole prerogative of the State Government”, the deputy governor said.
He wondered why the Federal Government would be interfering in whatever happened in that direction.
“I am here together with the governor and other top government functionaries to ensure that the new emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, starts exercising his power and authority immediately after he was given his appointment letter yesterday (Friday)”, Gwarzo said.
He appealed to residents of the state to go about their lawful and normal businesses without fear or intimidation.
Sensing trouble, the police moved to take charge of the situation as a combined team of security operatives headed by the Nigeria Police Command in Kano State, sued for peaceful coexistence in the ensuing security situation in the state, particularly the developments surrounding the Chieftaincy Affairs of the State.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Usaini Mohammed Gumel, addressing a joint security press briefing on Saturday, at the Police Command Headquarters, Bompai, Kano, said .
“The Police Command is expressly obeying the Court Order with SUIT No. FHC/KN/CS/182/2024 Dated 23rd May, 2024 issued by the Federal High Court sitting in Kano alongside all Law Enforcement agents in the State.
“Therefore, we are calling on members of the public to know that the Police in the State is working together with the military and other security agencies and are with full capacity for providing the adequate security to everyone as we are committed to carrying out our statutory duties as provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He said the law-abiding people of Kano State are known for their revered cultural heritage and respect for constituted authorities and in this regard, advised them to remain calm, patient, and to keep cooperating with security agencies “as the matter described will be addressed by the Court on the 3rd of June 2024.”
He also said that the position of the law is very clear as whoever, under whatever guise, is found to be planning to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the State “or feel that he or she can jeopardise the existing security settings in the State will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.”
“Therefore, as the Police Command is leading other security agencies to sustain the peace and peaceful coexistence for overriding interests, miscreants should stay clear of violence in all its ramifications and should not take advantage or hijack the current situation to launch unprovoked attack on people, property and infrastructure of the State.
“Any person found with such a tendency will be ruthlessly dealt with according to the law of the land”, the Commissioner warned.
In his reaction, the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, appealed for calm among the citizenry and said that justice would prevail in the end.
“I call on the people to remain law-abiding while awaiting the outcome of the legal process in this tussle.
“We call on the authorities to do justice in this matter. Kano is a very influential state in Nigeria. Whatever affects Kano affects Nigeria. May peace reign in Kano. We pray for Allah to bless Kano with responsible and just leaders.
“Justice is the way to go on every issue. There will be justice. Nobody is above the law. We will accept whatever the law says. I appreciate all the people who have shown concern. As I said, justice will take its course. We will keep on praying for peace in Kano State. May Allah the Almighty protect us,” he said.
Meanwhile, heavily armed policemen and vigilante personnel are guarding the Emir’s Palace where the reinstated Emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Governor Yusuf, his Deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, and other top government functionaries are.
Equally, heavily armed soldiers, policemen and personnel of the NSCDC are guarding the second Royal House, Gidan Sarkin Nasarawa, where former Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, is staying.
About the Author
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
