Fresh tension in Kano as Abba Gida’s govt removes Bayero's portrait, replaces with Sanusi’s in coronation hall

Anxiety enveloped the ancient city of Kano city on Monday, July 31, as the state government did the unthinkable.

The sudden resurfacing of the portrait of the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, in Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano, has generated palpable fear in the state, The Guardian reported.

Prior to the development, the popular Coronation Hall, presently undergoing renovation, had the portraits of the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, and his counterparts in the four emirate councils, Daily Trust reported.

The development revived the rumoured plan to reinstate the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi, three years after his unceremonious dethronement by Abba Kabir Yusuf's government.

Meanwhile, the state government said placing Sanusi’s portrait in Coronation Hall depicts the importance of the 14th Emir to the state, Daily Independent report confirmed.

The chief press secretary to the governor, Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, stated thus:

“History of the Coronation Hall is synonymous with the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, because it was built for his presentation of staff of office when he was crowned to succeed the late Ado Bayero in 2014, during the administration of Kwankwaso.

“So, traditionally, his picture shall remain there forever. Bringing back the picture of the 14th emir is part of the ongoing rehabilitation to give Coronation Hall a facelift.”

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano state ordered the state’s accountant-general to stop the salaries of 10,800 workers believed to be employed by the previous administration led by Abdullahi Ganduje.

Abdulkadir Abdusalam, the Kano state accountant-general, disclosed this while addressing journalists on Monday, June 26.

According to Abdusalam, the Kano governor has issued a directive for an investigation to establish the authenticity of the workers’ engagement and procedures to remove those illegally recruited.