You are here: HomeBusiness2020 03 09Article 347476

General News of Monday, 9 March 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Like Grandfather, Like Grandson: How Sanusi was deposed same way as his granddad

Sanusi Sanusi

One ironic and yet hilarious aspect of former Emir of Kano, Muhammad Lamido Sanusi II's removal is the similarity of events and occurrences between him and his grandfather, Muhammad Sanusi I in the termination of their traditional dynasties.

According to history narrated by Ajiroba Yemi Kotun of The Nigerianvoice, Sanusi's grandfather, felt that the Sardauna of Sokoto (1938-1966) and Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello (1909-1966) might follow the example of Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909-1987) by recommending an emir to be Governor of the North.

As the Shehu of Bornu, Alhaji (Sir) Umar Ibn Mohammed el-Kanemi (1873-1968), was well advanced in age, the lot would easily have fallen on either the Sultan of Sokoto, Sir Abubakar, or the Emir of Kano, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi…either of them would have filled the position with dignity. But Ahmadu Bello had different plans. Instead, he chose his best friend, Sir Kashim Ibrahim (1910-1990) who, a few weeks later, received a congratulatory letter from the then Governor-General of the federation, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904-1996) and a formal announcement which was made in London on 1st June, 1962 by Buckingham Palace.

The power tussle between the duo began in 1962 when the Sardauna began to assert himself much more aggressively in the North and seemed to feel that his position as Premier was that of a grand emir who was superior to all other traditional rulers in the North including the Sultan of Sokoto.

The Emir and Sardauna began to clash repeatedly over customary rites, land tenure laws and a host of issues. Many times the Sarduna passed laws to inconvenience the Emir but he found ways around it.

Sanusi's I time was up when the Sardauna found a few shreds of evidence of wrongdoing to put the Emir away after a long political tussle filled with jealousy and envy.

It was against this backdrop that the administrative board of inquiry into the affairs of the Kano emirate (at the instance of the Sadauna) recommended that the Emir of Kano be dethroned. Governor Kashim Ibrahim knew that the situation was political dynamite capable of blowing up with disastrous consequences for the North, and so pleaded for caution when he learnt that the Sardauna had decided to ask the Emir to resign.

What followed was Ahamdu Bello's approval after Kashim tried to sue for peace that never came.

"Governor Kashim Ibrahim brought out a prepared resignation letter for him to sign, which the Emir signed without a word. Then, the Governor proceeded to deliver the coup de grace when he quietly demanded to know where the Emir would like to go, into exile…to which Sanusi replied, “Azare”, a small town in Bauchi province. And there he henceforth stayed for nearly 20 years before returning to Wudil about 6 kilometers from Kano," the story read.



The story is not too different from what transpired 57 years later with Sanusi, being forced into exile in Nassarawa. Just like his grandfather.