Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso yesterday opened up on why Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was chosen as the new Emir of Kano among the three princes who jostled for the throne.
Sanusi, a former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, was appointed on Sunday. He beat the two other contenders who were on the kingmakers’ nomination list, namely District Head of Gwale Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero and Wamban Kano Alhaji Abbas Sanusi. Protests erupted after the new emir’s name was announced, with bonfires being set up on some streets in Kano.
Speaking during the presentation of letter appointment to the new emir, the Kano State governor said Sanusi was chosen because of his exposure, competence and experience.
“God in his infinite mercy the name of his royal highness, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, was among the three people nominated by the kingmakers,” Kwankwaso said, denying reports that Sanusi’s name was not on the list submitted by the kingmakers.
“We chose him because of his exposure, competence, experience and having lineage to the throne, as the culture and the norms of the emirate provided, the Kano state government decided to select him as the new emir of Kano.
“As you have seen and heard, our meeting of yesterday (Sunday) June 8 followed the previous one held on Saturday June 7, with the kingmakers where we decided to meet again yesterday, Sunday.
“But some enemies of this state and our government went before we even met and politicised this issue and aired it on television and radio stations when we didn’t even sit down and discuss the contestants to the throne.
“My attention was drawn to the development when we are about to enter into meeting with these kingmakers who guided me and in my capacity as the governor of Kano State. I studied their recommendations and selected His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano.”
Kwankwaso said the appointment had nothing to do with politics, as is being alleged.
“Some people thought the appointment of emir is politics when it is not. Only Allah knows who has large number of supporters among those that indicated interest on the throne because this doesn’t require a vote as done in electing a governor,” he said.
“The laws and rules of selecting an emir don’t require the people to cast their vote. It is the kingmakers that will advise the governor, and the governor as Allah wishes has selected the one chosen by Allah as the emir.” Kwankwaso called on the district head, village and wards heads to accept the appointment as the will of Allah.
The governor also announced that the government has built a new home to relocate the family of the late emir Ado Bayero from the palace.
“Our government has built a house for the late emir’s family in Sharada quarters and today the commissioner of works will hand over the keys to the family of the late emir for those that are interested in living in the house,” he said.
“We are ready to build new structures in the palace for family members of the late emir that wishes to stay in the palace. We are ready to do anything possible to ensure that the family of the late monarch lives comfortably with dignity.”
On the protest over the selection of the new emir, Kwankwaso said, “I am advising those paying these young children to be setting bonfires on the street as it is not a good thing to do.
“For the past 20 years that I am in politics and having governed the state twice I never sponsored somebody to be a thug. We are warning them to desist from doing so.
“Some people are saying that His Highness name wasn’t in the list, I will like to inform them that his name was not only in the list but among the top names in that list.”
– Daily Trust