Muhammadu Sanusi commends President Tinubu for resisting pressure to interfere in his reinstatement as Emir of Kano, praising Tinubu's respect for separation of powers.
The recently reinstated Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, has commended President Bola Tinubu for resisting pressure to interfere in the local affairs surrounding his reappointment to the influential traditional position.
The reinstatement of Sanusi as the Emir of Kano followed a series of legislative changes by the Kano State Government. Governor Abba Yusuf signed the new Kano Emirate Council Law after the state assembly passed the amended Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024, effectively repealing the 2019 version that had led to Sanusi's deposition in 2020.
Speaking in an interview with Television Continental (TVC), Sanusi praised President Tinubu's principled stance of non-interference in the internal affairs of the state, recognizing it as a local matter to be handled by the state government.
"I would also like to express my thanks to his excellency Alhaji Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu without whose principled stance of non-interference in the internal affairs of the state, this would not have been possible," Sanusi said. "The president has shown that he is a respecter of the constitution and the separation of powers, he recognizes that this is a purely local matter and that the government has a responsibility to do what is right for the state."
Sanusi, who had been deposed in 2020 on allegations of insubordination without the opportunity to defend himself, described his return to the throne as a "correction of injustice" done to the people, culture, and tradition of Kano. He expressed gratitude to God for the reunification of the Kano Emirate, which had previously been balkanized into five jurisdictions.
The reinstatement of Sanusi has been met with mixed reactions. While his supporters have welcomed the move as a restoration of tradition and justice, critics have raised concerns about the potential erosion of the separation of powers and the role of traditional institutions in modern governance.
Opposition parties, however, have accused the Tinubu administration of selective interference, pointing to the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, where the federal government has been accused of meddling in the affairs of the state.
Legal experts and analysts have emphasized the need for a clear delineation of roles and responsibilities between traditional institutions and elected government bodies, calling for a broader national dialogue on the subject.
As Sanusi begins his second tenure as the Emir of Kano, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on the delicate balance between preserving cultural traditions and upholding the principles of modern governance, with the hope that wisdom and restraint will prevail in navigating this complex issue.
