ADO BAYERO’S SUCCESSOR EMERGES TODAY: KINGMAKERS RECOMMEND SANUSI, CIROMA, WAMBAI

Kingmakers responsible for nomination of a successor to the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, yesterday submitted the names of the eldest son of the late monarch, Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero, that of the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Wamban Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, to Governor Rabi’u […]

Kingmakers responsible for nomination of a successor to the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, yesterday submitted the names of the eldest son of the late monarch, Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero, that of the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Wamban Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, to Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso for consideration for selection as new emir.
    The four kingmakers forwarded the list hours after they emerged from a secret meeting at the Soron Giwa chamber of the late traditional ruler.

  The four, comprising Madakin Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Nabani, Makaman Kano, Alhaji Sarki Abdullahi, Sarkin Dawaki Mai-Tuta, Alhaji Bello Tuta and Sarkin Bai, Alhaji Mukhtar Adnan, later in the evening met with Kwankwaso at the Kano State Government House, where they presented with him the list.
Palace and government sources told our correspondent that top on the list was the name of the eldest son of the late emir, Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero, who is the present Ciroman Kano and district head of Gwale.
The former CBN governor and Wambai were said to be second and third on the list, respectively.
Speaking shortly after meeting with the kingmakers, Kwankwaso told waiting journalists that the new emir of Kano would be announced today.
“By Allah’s grace, the new emir will be announced tomorrow (Sunday),” he said, while fielding questions from newsmen.
Prior to their meeting with Kwankwaso, the kingmakers had met for about two hours to shortlist candidates among qualified contenders for the throne.
The meeting which was the first of its kind since the death of Bayero last Friday, ended around 11.15am.
A staff of the Emirate Council, who spoke to Sunday Trust, said the kingmakers had ordered for a file from the secretariat of the emirate council situated opposite the palace.
“They demanded for a file this morning and when they got it they went straight into the chamber for private meeting,” he said.
Palace workers and journalists saw the kingmakers leaving the chamber around 11.20am.
“They came out of the chamber the same way they sneaked in. They entered the chamber one after the other and they came out to join the crowd the same way,” a journalist said.
Sunday Trust learnt that Kano State governor was the only authority with the power to pick one of the three shortlisted contenders as the new emir of Kano.
Other children of the late Emir Bayero, who were also vying for the stool, later withdrew in favour of their elder brother, Sanusi.
Anyone appointed as Bayero’s successor would be crowned as the 14th emir of the Sullubawa clan which has been ruling Kano since the time of Emir of Kano Ibrahim Dabo, who reigned from 1819 to 1846.
Meanwhile, sympathizers on Saturday continued thronging the emir’s palace to register their condolence. Among the early callers were the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
General Obasanjo, in his tribute, described the late Ado Bayero as an icon that lived for his people. “For all of us who knew the late emir very well, we feel a sense of loss because the departed emir was a great icon and exemplary traditional ruler who has been part of the changes that took place socially and politically in the country.
“For all the time I oversaw the affairs of the country either as a military ruler or an elected leader we worked very closely with him. For me, I have lost a friend, a confidante, an adviser, but I’ve pride in the life that he lived. We should all be proud of all the legacies he left behind,” the former president said.
In his tribute, the Minister of Defence General Aliyu Gusau said the deceased led his subject with all sense of fairness.
Other notable dignitaries at the palace were Governor Sa’idu Dakingari of Kebbi State, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and General Buba Marwa.
Also, a delegation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), comprising Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto State and former EFCC boss, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was at emir’s palace to condole the family.