Another season of uncertainty for traditional rulers (I)

Once more we are witnesses to another season of winds of uncertainty swirling ferociously around the palaces of our traditional rulers in the far northern states of the country. Let us not generalise, because the gales of winds have only been battering some palaces in the northwest. Nonetheless, these palaces, namely Kano, Katsina and Sokoto […]

Once more we are witnesses to another season of winds of uncertainty swirling ferociously around the palaces of our traditional rulers in the far northern states of the country. Let us not generalise, because the gales of winds have only been battering some palaces in the northwest. Nonetheless, these palaces, namely Kano, Katsina and Sokoto are some of the most visible in the country. The Kano emirate crisis is ongoing, and lately, there are grounds to believe that something akin to what is happening in Kano is also brewing in Katsina and Sokoto, their erstwhile suzerain.

We have spilt so much ink on this page on the Kano emirate tussle. It is rather unfortunate that the emirship of Kano has been one of the most embattled in the country since the British fought the pitched battle outside Kano gates in 1903. Aliyu Babba, the emir during that unfortunate era, was the first casualty as he was captured and sent into exile to Lokoja to spend the rest of his life there. Thereafter, the colonial regime had no major difficulties with Kano emirs as none was ever dethroned. It was a different matter with the political class that took over from the colonial regime in 1960.

Emir Muhammadu Sanusi I, the ruling Kano emir at the time of independence, immediately encountered difficulties with the new powers that be. He was dethroned and sent into exile to Azare. He never returned to the throne. Since that lamentable episode, the relationship between Kano palace and the ruling political class in the state has continued to be tenuous and has run into difficulties many times. There were actual threats to Emir Ado Bayero’s throne during his 33-year-long reign. But it was his successor, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II, who would bite the bullet of dethronement. In a cruel twist of fate, Emir Sanusi II, would also suffer the same fate as his grandfather when he was similarly deposed in 2019.

What is now making the case of Emir Sanusi II unusual is the fact that when an opposing political party gained power in the state last year, they deposed the emir they found on the throne and replaced him with Sanusi II. But it is not yet over at this time of writing as the judiciary has thrown a spanner in the works of the Kano State Government. Confusing court judgements have made it possible now for Kano to accommodate two emirs sitting tight in palaces within the same neighbourhood in the city. As a wise-cracking friend ruefully observed, the royal game of musical chairs is running into a very fascinating dead-end with the last two chairs being taken up and none willing to relinquish.

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As the saga of the Kano emirate was heading to a dead-end, a similar one came to light. There has been some disturbing rumours circulating that the new APC government in Sokoto State is at odds with the Sultanate, which many believe is a prelude to taking action against the current Sultan. The rumour was pooh-poohed, as it sounded far-fetched, until Kashim Shettima the Vice-President gave flesh to the story in a speech to the governors of the north-western states at the occasion of their inaugural North West Peace and Security Conference in Katsina.

The vice president, who spoke shortly after the Sultan at the event, stated that the Sultan is more than just the North West state’s monarch; he is an institution that must be protected. The Vice-President addressed the Sokoto State deputy governor, who represented his principal: “Yes, the Sultan is the Sultan of Sokoto, but he is much more than that; he represents an idea, he is an institution, that all of us in this country must jealously guard, protect, promote, preserve, and project for the growth of our country.” Now that the vice president has taken the lid off the story, the Sokoto State government was quick to offer denials.

In a press statement released by the governor’s press secretary, Abubakar Bawa, he said that, ‘There was never any attempt to sack the sultan nor have we sent him any threat regarding that.’ He went on to add that, ‘The government reassures all Nigerians that, it will continue to protect the sultanate council and its dignity at all times’. However, a few days later an executive bill surfaced at the Sokoto State House of Assembly seeking to amend the Sokoto State Local Government and Chieftaincy Law 2008. The law when amended would dilute the power of the Sultanate to appoint district heads, who are the pivots of local administration.

The Sultanate would now be required to forward their recommendations to the governor for approval. The new government had earlier gone after the sitting district heads sacking several numbers for one reason or the other. The sledgehammer actions of the state government all point to a breakdown of trust with the Sultanate. I guess the speech of the vice president dampened tempers and served as a saving grace for the dignity of the Sultan but from all appearances, the state government is determined to curb the powers of the Sultanate.

Why is the conflict between the political class and the traditional institutions becoming a recurring problem? Is there a way out? We’ll continue the discussion next week.