There is a palpable tension in Kano state as deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero has returned to the ancient city of Kano, following his removal by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Thursday.
The whereabouts of the dethroned Emir had been unknown since his deposition, as reported by The Punch.
Recall that the state House of Assembly recently repealed the law enacted by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on December 5, 2019, which had split the Kano emirate into five and appointed Emirs to each new division.
Governor Yusuf, upon signing the repealed Kano Emirates Council Law, gave the affected Emirs 48 hours to vacate their palaces and hand over to the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
In a significant move, the governor also announced the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II, whom Ganduje had deposed in 2020.
Sanusi received his reappointment letter on Friday and subsequently led the Jumat prayers at the Government House in Kano.
Early Saturday, Aminu Ado Bayero returned to Kano, greeted by a crowd of supporters, as seen in a video shared by Daily Trust.
Confirming Sanusi’s reinstatement, Governor Yusuf said, “By the powers conferred on me by the Kano Emirate Council Law of 1984 and 2024, and supported by the recommendation of the kingmakers, I have the singular pleasure of confirming the reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and the head of the Kano Emirate Council.”
Meanwhile, in a recent dramatic twist stoking tensions around the emirate stool, governor Yusuf has ordered the immediate arrest of the former Emir Ado Bayero.
Daily Trust reports that in a statement, which Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, his spokesperson, issued on his behalf, Yusuf accused Ado Bayero of creating tension in the state.
“The former Emir was smuggled into Kano city last night in an attempt to forcefully return to the palace two days after being deposed by the Governor.”
“The Governor, it was confirmed that the new Emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, arrived at the palace in the company of the Governor, the Deputy Governor, the Speaker of the State Assembly, and other top government functionaries at about 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, 25th May 2024.”
