By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua
Sir: It is no longer news, that the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has been dethroned and banished to Nasarawa State by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State .
The decision to remove the ex-Emir was conveyed by the Secretary to the State Government, Usman Alhaji, on Monday. The state government accused the former Emir of insubordination.
Even before his final dethronement on Monday, many saw his exit coming. The brilliant Emir had a running battle with the executive governor over the years.
The rift between the duo deteriorated in the build up to the 2019 general election in which Sanusi was accused for supporting the candidate of PDP, Abba Kabir Yusuf, which did not go down well with the governor.
The rift started with the investigation of alleged embezzlement of emirate funds, creation of additional Emirates and finally dethronement.
All efforts to reconcile the governor and his estranged Emir had failed to yield positive result. Now, Sanusi 11 has kissed his throne a good bye.
Although the former Emir has accepted what happened to him in good faith and enjoined supporters to extend their warm reception or support to his successor; there are lessons to learn from the life and times of this great former monarch.
Nobody can deny the fact that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is an economist and astute banker who, besides being a lecturer, had a successful banking career.
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Sanusi rose to the position of Managing director First Bank. He was also appointed governor of CBN by the administration of late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and was retained by the Jonathan government.
The former Emir is a radical scholar who is believed to often speakthe truth no matter whose ox is gored .As governor of CBN, Sanusi became whistle blower and exposed magnitude of corruption in NNPC an action that presumably led to his sack. Even after he ascended to the throne, the gadfly Emir had never stopped calling spade by its name.
Traditional rulers serve as a link between government and the masses. They sensitize and solicit support for government policies and programs. Like his predecessor late Ado Bayero who hardly speak or criticise government policies, Sanusi has penchant for picking holes in government policies.
Some aides of the governor have accused the deposed emir for openly criticising the governor instead of privately meeting and advising him.
The politicisation of the feud between Sanusi and Governor Ganduje has compounded the situation and made the matters worse. Our traditional rulers should stay away from politics in order to save their integrity.
His grandfather, the late Emir Muhammadu Sanusi 1,was dethroned by Northern regional government in 1963. Fifty seven years after, the grandson has also suffered similar fate. This is a sad experience.
- Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna State.
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