The National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, stated that the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano and the numerous demolitions carried out by Governor Engr. Kabir Abba Yusuf were part of the party’s campaign promises.
Kwankwaso accused certain individuals in Abuja of pressuring the former Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero, to return to Kano even after he and others had accepted the dissolution of the five emirates created by the Ganduje administration.
Speaking on Prime Time, a political program on Arise News, Kwankwaso, who was the NNPP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, expressed no regrets about fulfilling their campaign promises which led to the governor’s election.
“It was a campaign issue,” Kwankwaso explained. “Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was installed in 2014 by our government. My Deputy, who became governor, decided to divide Kano into five emirates. Many forget that this was attempted by the Rimi government during the Second Republic.”
He continued, “We believed that Kano should remain a single, solid traditional institution. During our campaign, the governor promised that if elected, Kano would return to being one strong emirate, with support from the other emirates.”
Upon taking office, the governor began a process of consultation. Kwankwaso noted, “The emirates created by Rimi were dissolved by Sabo Bakinzuwo, who succeeded him, immediately at the Race Course where he was sworn in.”
The governor conducted a year-long consultation and followed due process through the State House of Assembly, leading to Sanusi’s reinstatement. “People voted for him for many reasons, including unifying Kano as one strong emirate,” Kwankwaso said.
“We have a history,” he emphasized. “We didn’t just wake up one day to do this. This is the position of the people of Kano State, and we have done what is right. The other four emirs have accepted it and moved out of their palaces.”
Source: Thenation