Sanusi takes throne as Emir of Kano

Former Central Bank governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi yesterday took the throne as the Emir of Kano, following a selection process in which he defeated two other contenders.The appointment was announced by the Secretary to the State Government amidst tight security in Kano, as soldiers manned major road junctions in the city.Lamido Sanusi beat Alhaji Sanusi […]

Former Central Bank governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi yesterday took the throne as the Emir of Kano, following a selection process in which he defeated two other contenders.
The appointment was announced by the Secretary to the State Government amidst tight security in Kano, as soldiers manned major road junctions in the city.
Lamido Sanusi beat Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero, eldest son of the late emir, and Wamban Kano Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, to become the 14th Emir of Kano from the Sullubawa Clan.
But his selection did not go down well with certain people in Kano, who see him as an outsider and preferred the late emir’s son.
Soon after the announcement, those aggrieved with the decision took to the streets, setting up bonfires and barricading the main road leading to the emir’s palace.
They chanted: ‘Ba muso!’ meaning ‘We don’t want!” to signify their opposition to Sanusi’s appointment.
The protests grounded activities in some parts of the city for a short while. There were attempts by the protesters to force themselves into the Government House, but they were pushed back by security agents.
But Daily Trust correspondents who went round the city from 7.30pm to 9pm reported that the protests had died down and people were moving about normally.
Groups of people were seen apparently discussing the appointment of the new emir.
Soldiers were also seen patrolling the streets.
When contacted, state police commissioner Adenerele Shinaba confirmed there were “pockets” of protest which were curtailed.
“Yes there were initial pockets of protest in part of the state but we have succeeded in curtailing it. People came out disenchanted and they were chanting ‘ba muso’, they took to the street but the situation is now under control,” he told Daily Trust by telephone.
Earlier, at about 4.45pm Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Rabiu Sulaiman Bichi, said Sanusi was picked following his nomination by the Kano emirate kingmakers.
Bichi made the announcement at the Government House, flanked by the four kingmakers.
“As it is customary, the emirate council responsible for appointing the new Emir has sat down, discussed and forwarded three names to the governor to choose one as the successor of the late emir,” Bichi said.
“Out of these three names, the governor chose Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new emir of Kano.”
Hours before the appointment was announced there were rumours that a different person was appointed. A television station reported that Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero had been appointed new emir.
The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Jonah Jang-led faction of the Nigeria Governors Forum promptly issued congratulatory messages for Ado Bayero’s son.
Soon after, the Kano State Government denied making the appointment, forcing PDP to retract its earlier statement saying it was issued unauthorised by an aide to party spokesman Olisa Metuh.
Frank, outspoken
Frank, controversial and outspoken, the new Emir Sanusi was born on July 31, 1961. He is the grandson of the deposed Emir of Kano, the late Muhammadu Sanusi. His late father Alhaji Aminu Sanusi had held the title of Ciroman Kano.
Sanusi had his primary education at St. Anne Primary School, Kakuri, Kaduna from 1967 to 1972 and had his secondary education at the King’s College, Lagos.
In 1981, he graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, and obtained a Master of Science degree in Economics with a distinction in Monetary Policy in 1983.
Sanusi underwent the National Youth Service in the defunct Gongola State.
He later studied Sharia Law at the International University of Africa, Khartoum, Sudan, graduating with a first class degree.
Sanusi began his career as a lecturer at ABU, Zaria where he taught Economics in 1985. From there he moved to the banking industry, joining the United Bank of Africa (UBA) in 1997 where he worked in the Credit and Risk Management Division. He rose to the position of the General Manager.
In September 2005, Sanusi was the chairman of Kakawa Discount House. He later joined the Board of First Bank of Nigeria as an Executive Director in charge of Risk and Management Control and was later appointed Group Managing Director in January 2009.
Later same year, Sanusi reached the peak of his banking career when he was appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by then-President Umaru Yar’Adua. He served until March this year when he was suspended from office by President Goodluck Jonathan under controversial circumstances.
Sanusi was appointed Dan Majen Kano by the late Emir Ado Bayero in 2012.
Sanusi had for long held an ambition to become emir of Kano, something he once said in a newspaper interview.