- It Is A Political Move To Undermine Our Traditional Institutions-Protesters
- NSA Threatens To Sue Kano Deputy Gov Over Defamatory Comments
- I Have No Plan To Challenge My Removal-Deposed Emir Of Gaya Speaks
The Emirship tussle in Kano State is fast assuming a worrisome dimension as protests have broken out in different parts of the ancient city.
Earlier, The Matrix had reported that a fresh round of protests broke out in Kano amid the tussle for the throne of the Emirate between Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.
Bayero, the dethroned Emir of Kano, had, contrary to the directive of the state governor, Abba Yusuf, refused to vacate the palace.
At about 4:00 pm on Sunday, young residents marched through the streets of Kano to demand a return of the dethroned monarch.
Some of them lit a bonfire on a major road as they chanted anti-government songs.
It was observed that policemen and other security agents were on ground and there was no move to disperse the protesters.
The protesters, who trooped out after observing a special prayer session, marched towards the palace, where Emir Sanusi is holding court.
In Gaya, residents reported that the dethroned emir vacated the palace at midnight on Thursday, with no immediate signs of violence or resistance. Armed security personnel were present in the town, maintaining order.
However, the situation took a drastic turn on Sunday morning when they stormed the streets, wielding placards and chanting anti-government songs. They accused the government of political motives behind the dissolution and demanded the reinstatement of their emirate and the removed emir.
READ ALSO: Breaking: Kano Governor Orders Aminu Ado Bayero, the deposed emir, to Be Arrested
“Some people are not happy with this development. It feels like an injustice to our community,” said Abubakar Shuaibu, a resident of Gaya.
Another protester, Aminu Abdullahi, stated, “We see this as a political move to undermine our traditional institutions. The government should reconsider its decision and respect our cultural heritage.”
The protesters pledged their allegiance to the traditional leadership and called for the reinstatement of the Gaya Emirate.
Trouble had started last week’s Thursday after the Kano House Of Assembly repealed the 2019 law used to oust Sanusi as emir and balkanize the emirate into five jurisdictions.
The new emirate law stipulated the sack of all the Emirs in the jurisdictions and a restoration of the old order.
READ ALSO: Kano Emirship Tussle: Clash Of Titans
Abba Yusuf, Kano governor, had given the sacked monarchs 48 hours to vacate their palaces.
While the Emirs of Bichi, Rano, Karaye, and Gaya have complied with the directive, Bayero who had initially complied, had turned around to rebel.
Similarly, stakeholders in Bichi, one of the dissolved emirates in Kano, have said that the five first-class emirs did nothing wrong to warrant the dissolution decision of the state government.
In a statement issued by 39 of its stakeholders, on Sunday, Bichi said the emirs have recorded significant infrastructural and socioeconomic development in their domains in the past eight years.
“The First Class Emirate of Bichi, wish to express our deepest appreciation to the judiciary and security agencies for their steadfast commitment to upholding the constitution and the rule of law,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), is threatening to file a defamation suit against Aminu Gwarzo, deputy governor of Kano state.
Gwarzo had alleged that Ribadu facilitated the return of Aminu Bayero, the dethroned Emir of Kano, by providing him with two private jets.
After the reinstatement of Muhammad Sanusi II, Bayero returned to the emirate on Saturday, and moved into a palace in Nassarawa LGA of the state.
A retinue of soldiers who had been protecting Bayero before he was dethroned, rode with him from the airport to the palace.
Ribadu has since denied the allegation, and is now threatening to sue the deputy governor if he does not retract the claim.
In a letter to Gwarzo, Aliyu & Musa Chambers, counsel to Ribadu, demanded an apology from the deputy governor.
“The attention of our client was drawn to a video clip being shared on different social media platforms wherein you granted an interview at Emir’s Palace in Kano on Saturday, the 25th day of May 2024, in a very calm atmosphere, and without any provocation whatsoever, falsely accusing our client of using his office to kill the people of Kano State and maim their properties,” the letter as quoted by Daily Trust reads.
READ ALSO: Soldiers Support Deposed Emir Following Arrest Order
“In the clip, you were shown to be speaking in Hausa.
“Your false accusations against our client portraying his office as an appendage of a political party and a willing tool to cause chaos in Kano is false and done with the intention of damaging the hard-earned reputation of our client in the eyes of the right-thinking members of the society and indeed it has succeeded in doing so.
“In all the places he has served, our client has never been accused of any wrongdoing.
“Given this illustrious background, it is inconceivable that someone would harbour the thought that our client would descend his exalted office so low as to interfere in the local tussle of the Kano Emirate.
“The wide coverage you gave your interview has caused serious embarrassment to our client and his family.
“Since the publication, our client has been receiving a barrage of telephone calls both within and outside Nigeria from friends and associates who felt disappointed in him because of the false allegation owing to the fact that it came from a person occupying the office of Deputy Governor of Kano State.
“Our client and his office take your allegations seriously and by this letter, our client is demanding that you provide irrefutable evidence to substantiate your claims. If you have no proof, our client demands you to within 24 hours:
“i. retract the libellous allegation in a similar manner you made it as well as give it wide media circulation; and…
“ii. issue a public apology in five National dailies with wide national coverage and on popular online platforms. Note that if you fail to do so, our client will be compelled to seek redress in a court of law.”
In a related development, Aliyu Abdulkadir, dethroned Emir of Gaya, says he has accepted his faith.
Speaking with BBC Hausa, Abdulkadir said he believes that the development was predestined before he was born.
“Nobody will feel happy about this development, but it is Allah that made you [on the throne], and everything has time.
READ ALSO: Emir Dispute: Dethroned Bayero, Moves Into Nasarawa Palace
“Allah has predestined that this would happen long before we were born, therefore we do not hold a grudge against anybody. It is the will of Allah and we have accepted it wholeheartedly.”
