Emir Muhammad Sanusi II and Leadership Challenge

Some years back, Babangida, a domestic servant to the late MD Yusufu come to our family house in Katsina with an instruction from MD Yusufu that I should travel to Lagos to meet him but I must call him to confirm through the number he gave me. I did, and he asked me to fly […]

Some years back, Babangida, a domestic servant to the late MD Yusufu come to our family house in Katsina with an instruction from MD Yusufu that I should travel to Lagos to meet him but I must call him to confirm through the number he gave me. I did, and he asked me to fly immediately to Lagos through Kano. I became very anxious, as at that time I had never travelled by air.
When we landed in Lagos, I met a driver waiting to pick me up at the airport. On getting to MD Yusufu’s residence, I met him with the late Chiroman Kano, the father of the present Emir of Kano. We knew each other because whenever MD came to Kaduna, we used to meet him in the house of the late Chiroma where we spend time together, sometimes far into the night. In Kano, I also used to lodge at the Chiroma’s house in Gandu Quarters whenever I happened to be there.
My intimate relationship with these two great personalities in the life of the present Emir of Kano offered me the rare opportunity of knowing so many wonderful and impressive things about his life. His nature and philosophy of life combined to suggest that he will become a leader that will immensely benefit his people and the nation.
Apparently, many people failed to understand the wisdom in his speeches and actions. Such wonderful indicators that pointed to the fact that he was steadily marching towards greatness are too numerous to mention, but I can buttress a few that were recently reported by the media.
It is on record that the Emir at one time when he was a very Senior Executive in the banking sector, enjoying all the perks of office, decided to put aside the luxury and comfort of his position and rather went to Sudan to further his Islamic knowledge with emphasis on the Quran.
It is on record that when he was heading the First Bank of Nigeria, he brought some progressive changes and ideas that puzzled even directors and management of the bank. After successfully convincing them about the efficacy of his proposals and eventual implementation of the plans, the bank became stronger, more organized and much more popular.
Those achievements were among those considered in appointing him as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
A similar situation arose when he was the Governor of the Central Bank. He implored some drastic measures that brought about the much needed changes that shook the banking industry.
Many chief executives in the banking sector become jittery, fearing that their heinous activities would be exposed. He collaborated with the then EFCC Chairman Farida Waziri in preventing the collapse of the nation’s economy especially through re-organising the commercial banking segment.
The economic atmosphere became heated, and the news at the time mostly focused on CBN, EFCC and the commercial banks. He was turbaned as the Dan-Maje of Kano on 8th July, 2015 while he was still the Governor of Central bank.
Many people thought that it will be easier for him to become the next Emir of Kano because of his exalted position as Central Bank Governor but he parted ways with the government he was serving when he exposed high level corruption and embezzlement. An attempt was made to make him compromise his position on the matter but he remained adamant.
He was eventually sacked. He went to court, and his detractors thought that his fame had finally waned.
His ascension to the throne was followed by a lot of insinuations, hypocrisy and evil plans from certain quarters to cause confusion and chaos, but Allah prevented that. The perpetrators then resorted to saying that when the government of the day returns to power, they may remove him. But as Allah willed it, it was the government of the day that left the scene.
From the time he was turbaned as the Emir of Kano, a lot of incidents have happened which revealed the emir’s character and qualities. One was when he offered to lead Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia at no cost, in order to help Nigeria reduce the expenses incurred annually on Federal Government delegation to the Holy Land. He performed creditably well through exemplary leadership that the Saudi Arabian authorities acknowledged the presence of an enlightened dedicated and committed leadership.
His Highness, the Emir of Kano Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II (May Allah bless and Prolong his life) has become a household name. He is like the Golden fish that cannot hide. Indeed, the more gold is rubbed, the brighter it becomes. Whoever knows the Emir can attest to his honesty and forthrightness. He always speaks what he believes to be true no matter what it will cost him.
Long Live His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II, Emir of Kano and Chairman Katsina Vocational Training Centre!
Danjuma is a journalist, Secretary MD Yusuf Research and Documentation Centre