The Kano State House of Assembly has commenced the process of amending the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, which was previously used to dethrone the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi. This development comes amid calls for the return of the deposed emir.
The amendment process began on Tuesday during plenary, when the Majority Leader and member representing Dala constituency, Hussien Dala, moved the motion. This move follows the electoral victory of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who had campaigned on the promise of restoring the old Kano Emirate system.
The law was first amended in 2019, during the rift between then-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the deposed Emir Sanusi. The amendment led to the creation of five new emirates – Rano, Karaye, Gaya, and Bichi – and the appointment of First Class Emirs for these new emirates, ultimately resulting in Emir Sanusi’s deposition.
Governor Yusuf’s party, the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), has expressed support for reviewing the emirate system. Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the party’s leader, stated that the new government will “pick up from where we left off” and review the emirate system, including the division of the emirates into five.
The development has sparked hope among those calling for Emir Sanusi’s reinstatement. The amendment process is seen as a step towards resolving the challenges facing the Kano emirate system and promoting peace in the state.
