Emir Muhammadu Sanusi has been dethroned as the traditional ruler of Kano by Umar Ganduje, governor of Kano State.
The order came after months of tension occasioned by political disagreements between Emir Sanusi and the governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje
The Director-General, Media and Communications, Kano State Government, Salihu Yakasai, said this on his official Twitter handle, @Dawisu, on Monday.
“The Kano State Executive Council has unanimously approved the dethronement of the Emir of Kamo Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II at a special sitting held today by the council,” he tweeted.
Sanusi ascended the throne in 2014, following the death of his granduncle Ado Bayero. His grandfather Muhammadu Sanusi I reigned from 1953 to 1963, when he was deposed by Premier Ahmadu Bello. His father Aminu Sanusi was Ciroma of Kano.
The Emir has held the post since 2014. He had previously served as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. His outspokenness on critical social issues that were at variance with the state policy is believed to be at the heart of his rift with Ganduje.
A statement read by the Secretary to the State Government Usman Alhaji identified disloyalty as part of reasons for the dethronement.
The deposed Emir has been the subject of multiple anti-corruption allegations from the Kano State anti-corruption agency while the Ganduje led government had in May 2019, broke the Kano Emirate into five to whittle down Emir Sanusi’s influence.
