Kano govt denies banishing former emir, says claim of right abuse premature
President Muhammadu Buhari wednesday refuted a claim that he was instrumental to the dethronement of former Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, describing such insinuations as untrue, malicious and politically motivated.
Apparently responding to an allegation by a former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, claiming Buhari was behind the dethronement, presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, said in a statement in Abuja that the president had a history of not intervening in state affairs unless national security is involved.
The presidential disclaimer coincided with the Kano State government’s clarification that it did not banish Sanusi, saying the claim that his right had been abridged was premature.
Responding to the growing outrage over Sanusi’s banishment, the state’s Attorney General, Mr. Ibrahim Muktar, said the state government was not behind the former emir’s forcible relocation to Nasarawa State.
But the Kano State Commissioner for Police, Mr. Habu Sani Ahmadu, said contrary to the belief in some quarters that the movement of the deposed emir from Kano to Nasarawa State was illegal and infringed on his fundamental human rights, his movement was ‘spelt out.’
However, barely 24 hours after the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, appointed Sanusi into the board of the state’s investment promotion agency, the governor yesterday appointed the dethroned emir as the chancellor of the Kaduna State University.
The presidential statement said Buhari would only dabble into any issue in a state when such a matter borders on national security because he has a responsibility to comply with the law in that regard.
It explained that issues bordering on the appointments and removal of traditional rulers are within the purview of states and hence, linking the president with what happened in Kano was unfair.
“As outlined in the constitution, the
appointment or removal of emirs and other traditional leaders is
strictly within the jurisdiction of state governments. It is unfair and
disingenuous of opposition politicians to try to link the situation in
Kano State to the federal government and the Nigerian president.
“Although a retired General and former military head of state, President
Buhari clearly understands that under the current democratic
dispensation, the government at the center cannot read instructions or
twist the arms of all or any of the 36 state governments making up the
federation. They all have their powers specified under the
constitution,” it said.
Buhari commended the people of Kano State for remaining calm since the dethronement of Sanusi.
He also prayed that God’s will be done at all times in both the emirate and the state.
President behind Sanusi’s Removal, Kwankwaso Alleges
Hours before the president’s rebuttal,
Kwankwaso had accused Buhari of being behind the removal of the emir and
expressed disaffection with the dethronement.
Kwankwaso, in an interview with BBC Hausa Service, monitored in Kano by
THISDAY yesterday, described the removal of the emir as an act of
impunity, which is also beyond the powers of the governor alone.
He said the removal of Sanusi was tied to his comments and advice on ways to move the country forward, adding that the Buhari administration was not comfortable with the comments.
He said: “Honestly speaking, what happened on Monday 9th of March 2020 is a sad thing for the entire people of Kano, Nigerians and the entire people of the world because the dethroned emir is a global figure because of the struggles he leads in his entire life, especially when he served as the CBN governor and this job at the Kano Emirate.
“On this day, we have seen very annoying things, especially the way impunity and disregard to the constitution and the laws were employed in dethroning His Highness, the Emir of Kano. We see this action as totally unjust.
“More so, the way we saw the deployment
of security agents, it is clear that this is beyond what a state
governor alone can do. Despite the intervention of his (Sanusi II)
lawyers seeking for him to be allowed to move to Lagos where he chose,
he was forcibly put in a plane and taken to the remotest place in the
country and after some plea, he was taken to another part of the same
Nasarawa State.
“We see this as a violation of the constitution, especially as Nigeria
has grown above this. It is especially a violation of Section 35 of the
constitution, which emphasises on the rights of the citizen.
“But even as you have chosen to use impunity to dethrone him, I wish to remind you that this is a democratic dispensation and not a military regime.
“Kano State government officials have been saying they were directed to dethrone Emir Sanusi. He (Buhari) instructed them.
“We believe here in Kano that he (Buhari) interferes where he wishes. He doesn’t interfere where his intervention is needed but interferes with issues where he is supposed to be neutral about.”
This Day
