Class, fanfare as Muhammadu Sanusi II returns to the north

Since his dethronement earlier in the year, the former emir of Kano’s visit to Kaduna drew a huge crowd and raised a host of questions and permutations, as Daily Trust reports. In his first return to northern Nigeria since he was dethroned as emir on March 9, 2020, Muhammdu Sanusi II, the 14th Emir of […]

Since his dethronement earlier in the year, the former emir of Kano’s visit to Kaduna drew a huge crowd and raised a host of questions and permutations, as Daily Trust reports.

In his first return to northern Nigeria since he was dethroned as emir on March 9, 2020, Muhammdu Sanusi II, the 14th Emir of Kano, this Sunday made a grand entrance into Kaduna State.

From the time the private jet that flew him into Kaduna touched down at the training command of the Nigerian Air Force Base, thousands of supporters lined up along Kawo area to catch a glimpse of Sanusi.

As soon as he appeared from the private jet, the entire Kawo area erupted in cheers and chants as the monarch was ushered to his waiting cream coloured Rolls Royce with private number MS-1.

Supporters and fans of the former emir trooped out in thousands, with some holding 2023 posters of him, while vehicle owners and other passers-by were stranded along major roads for hours.

Fans of Muhammadu Sanusi II trailed his motorcade in buses, motorcycles and tricycles from Kawo through Ali Akilu Road to the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, where he met with Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

Though no longer a king, the deposed emir received the welcome of a king in Kaduna as he walked with grace, clad in a well embroidered and colourful alkyabba (the over garment that hangs loosely from his shoulders) to the musical sound of algaita (a Hausa musical wind instrument favoured by royalties) and surrounded by traditional security guards called Dogarai.

Sanusi’s decision to visit Kaduna before any other state since his relocation to Lagos five months ago has significance as the former emir told Governor Nasir El-Rufai, his long-time friend, that he had made a vow to visit Kaduna before any other state due to the role El-Rufai played during his dethronement saga.

“As the world knows, whenever I am in need of friends, you are the first to show up and the whole world was a witness to how when I needed a friend you were there. So, I made up my mind in Lagos that In Shaa Allah, the day I step out of Lagos, you will be the first person I will visit. I visit you to thank you for your friendship, to thank you for your service to the state,” he said.

Sanusi, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, is expected to spend a week in Kaduna to engage with stakeholders as he assume his role as the Chancellor of Kaduna State University (KASU) and Vice-Chairman of the Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA).

He was offered the two appointments by Governor Nasir El-Rufai barely 24 hours after the announcement of his dethronement was made official. With his visit, the deposed emir is expected to meet with the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, who is the chairman of the Board of KADIPA, as well as the management of KASU.

As Vice Chairman of the Board of KADIPA which was established in 2015 and backed by Kaduna State Law No. 17, 2015, Sanusi is expected to meet quarterly with about 17 other members of the board, including the Chairman, Dr Balarabe. The law of KADIPA states that a Vice Chairman of the board: “shall be appointed from the private sector who shall be a respected person of good character with sound knowledge of the Nigerian business and investment environment and a track record of success.”

His role as Chancellor of KASU, Daily Trust gathered, is basically to serve as a ceremonial head who awards degrees. Chancellors in Nigerian universities are often drawn from the country’s traditional leadership because of their networks, connections as well as the endowments and development opportunities they bring to the university.

‘Sanusi, a man of the people, not the throne’

His reception by the people of Kaduna State may have rattled his adversaries, but Sanusi’s supporters say it clearly shows that the former emir is a man of the people.

Comrade Kabiru Sa’aidu Dakata, the executive secretary of Centre for Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA), described the scenario that played out during the visit of former emir Sanusi II to Kaduna as a clear indication that he is well respected everywhere.

According to Dakata, a supporter of Sanusi, “Despite the fact that he was dethroned, people still respect Sanusi not only in his state or the north, but also in the whole country. Even while he was in Lagos, he received a lot of visitors despite the COVID-19 lockdown.”

“I’m very sure those who deposed him are not happy about this,” he said adding that Sanusi’s adversaries had forgotten that, as an accomplished person before becoming the emir of Kano, Sanusi had made remarkable achievements, he is a man of the people not the throne,” he said.

He said there were those in Kano who are displeased by the way Sanusi was received in Kaduna but assured that his visit to Kano would make many green with envy. “They should wait and see the day he will visit Kano, we will invite him to come to Kano and no one can stop him because it is his constitutional right. What you saw in Kaduna will be a child’s play. We will honour him in Kano with or without the throne,” Dakata said.

Kano residents react

For Sanusi Ibrahim Almanzawiy, Sanusi’s visit to Kaduna has shown the level of acceptance the former emir has outside Kano.

“It simply shows he is accepted and loved by people. The scenario could also be interpreted as an attempt by the Kaduna State government to tease the Kano State government,” Almanzawiy added.

On his part, Ali Mamuda Koki described the royal welcome organised in honour of the former emir as a move by Kaduna State to create a parallel emirate. For another resident of Kano, Kamal Adamu, the visit of Sanusi to Kaduna and the large crowd that received him could be politically motivated ahead of 2023, especially since some of his supporters were carrying posters of Sanusi for 2023.

“Ordinarily, El-Rufai’s supporters are not supposed to be on good terms with followers of former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso but you could see that the Kwankasiya people travelled to Kaduna to welcome Sanusi. Certainly that is an indication that there could be something beyond what the eyes could see,” he said.

Daily Trust recalled that Muhammadu Sanusi II was enthroned as the 14th emir of Kano on June 8, 2014, following the death of Emir Ado Bayero. He was however deposed by the Kano State Governor, Abduallahi Ganduje, on March 9, 2020 for alleged ‘insubordination’ to authorities.

Sanusi was then banished to Loko in Nasarawa State before he was allowed to proceed to Awe in the same state where he spent three days before a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered him to be released from detention.