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Tag: Emir of Kano

  • Appeal Court sets aside order nullifying Sanusi’s appointment as 16th Emir of Kano

    Appeal Court sets aside order nullifying Sanusi’s appointment as 16th Emir of Kano

    The Court of Appeal in Kano has set aside the June 20 order by Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano, nullifying the steps/actions taken by the Kano State Government pursuant to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, including the appointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.

    In a judgment yesterday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, Kano, which sat in Abuja, held that the order nullifying the steps taken by the Kano State Government pursuant to the 2024 Emirates Council Law was made by Justice Liman without jurisdiction.

    The appellate court found that the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by an aggrieved king maker – Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi – on which basis Justice Liman issued the June 20 order, was not only invalid, the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear it. 

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    The judgment was on an appeal by the Kano State House of Assembly and its Speaker marked: CA/KN/140/2024 against Agundi and others. The appeal was against the June 20 ruling by Justice Liman, nullifying every step taken by the state government and other respondents pursuant to the new law.

     The Kano State House of Assembly enacted the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024 on May 23 last year, which the state governor assented to on the same date. The law repealed the Kano State Emirates Council Law (2019).

    Pursuant to the new law, the Kano State Government among others, sacked Aminu Ado Bayero as Kano Emir, reinstated Sanusi as Emir and reversed the creation of five new Emirates by the preceding administration of Umar Ganduje.

    Aggrieved by the law, Agundi filed his fundamental rights enforcement suit on the same May 23, 2024, following which Justice Liman issued an order directing parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the suit ante the passage of the new Emirates Council law.

     In his June 20 ruling, Justice Liman voided all the steps taken by the Kano State Government pursuant to the 2024 Emirate Council Law on the grounds that they were taken in violation of his earlier order made on May 23, 2024 directing parties, in Agundi’s fundamental rights suit, to maintain status quo ante.

     In the lead judgment of the Court of Appeal, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held the foundation upon which Justice Liman based the June 20 annulment order was based on the wrong assumption that the Federal High Court has jurisdiction to hear the substantive suit, which it actually did not have.

     Justice Kolawole noted that matters concerning the validity of state laws and the regulation of traditional/chieftaincy institutions, which Agundi’s case was all about, do not fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, rather they fall squarely within the jurisdiction of state High Court.

     H added: “Having held that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction, it necessary follows that any order made by the trial court including the annulment of the steps and actions taken by the appellants and others on grounds of disobedience of the order of the lower court has become null and void.

     “A court that lacks the jurisdiction to entertain a substantive matter also lacks the competence to make any order or grant any relief in respect of that matter.

    “The annulment order made by the trial court, which is the subject of this appeal, is not sustainable because the said order was made by a court that lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the substantive suit,

     “In view of the above, the order made by the Federal High Court, Kano judicial division by Justice A. M. Liman (now JCA) in suit number: FHC/KN/182/2024, which order was handed down on the 20th of June 2024 nullifying all steps and actions taken by the appellants and others in pursuant of the Kano State Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024 is hereby nullified and accordingly set aside,” Justice Kolawole said.

     Justices Mohammed Mustapha and Abdu Dogo, who were also on the panel agreed with Justice Kolawole’s findings and some orders made, but disagreed with him on his order that the suit by Agundi, marked: FHC/KN/182/2024 be remitted back to the Chief Judge of the High Court of Kano State to be heard on its merit.

    Justices Mustapha and Dogo were of the view that remitting the case to the High Court of Kano for hearing was a waste of judicial time because the case itself was not initiated by due process of law in that it did not relate to any fundamental rights guaranteed under Chapter 4 of the Constitution or the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. 

    In an earlier judgment, Justice Kolawole faulted the June 13 ruling by Justice Liman in which he (Liman) held that his court has the jurisdiction to hear the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Agundi.

     The appeal, marked: CA/KN/126/2924 was also filed by the Kano House of Assembly and the Speaker against the June 13, 2024 ruling by Justice Liman, assuming jurisdiction over Agundi’s suit.

     Justice Kolawole noted that the reason given by the trial court to assume jurisdiction was fundamentally flawed.

    He found that the claims brought before the trial court relate to chieftaincy issue and not the interpretation of the Kano Emirate laws, issues fall within the jurisdictional competence of the High Court of Kano State.

     The judge said the Federal High Court could only examine the legitimacy of any law enacted by a State House of Assembly on grounds of constitutional inconsistency, that it is not consistent with the Constitution, which is the grund norm.

     Justice Kolawole awarded a cost of N500,000 in favour of the appellants and against Agundi.

     Justices Mustapha and Dogo agreed with the lead judgment, but also disagreed with Justice Kolawole’s order that the suit by Agundi, marked: FHC/KN/182/2024 be remitted back to the Chief Judge of the HIgh Court of Kano State to be heard on its merit.

    They instead, issued an order striking out the suit.

    In the judgment on the appeals by Aminu Ado Bayero, marked: CA/KN/200/2024 and CA/KN/200A/2024, the Court of Appeal found that the High Court of Kano State denied Bayero fair hearing in its hearing and determination of a case filed by the state government to enforce the new law.

    In the lead judgment, Justice Mustapha held that the trial court did not only fail to issue hearing notice to the appellant (Bayero) after the withdrawal of his lawyer, it proceeded to strike out the court documents files by the appellant “on the nebulous grounds that they had been abandoned”.

     He proceeded to hold that the proceedings conducted on July 4, 2024 by Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu of the High Court of Kano State and the judgment delivered of the July 15 are a nullity for having breached the appellant’s right to fair hearing.

    Justice Mustapha ordered that the case in respect of which the appeals were filed should be remitted back to the Chief Judge of the High Court of Kano State to be heard by another judge.

  • JUST IN: Emir of Kano, Sanusi bags PhD

    JUST IN: Emir of Kano, Sanusi bags PhD

    Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano, has been conferred with a doctorate after completing his Viva Voce. 

    In many universities, the Viva Voce, or oral examination, is a crucial part of the PhD process. 

    Kadaria Ahmed, CEO of RadioNow 95.3FM, shared the news on her Facebook page on Saturday, noting that Sanusi’s PhD thesis was accepted without any need for amendments or corrections.

    The statement read: “Happy to report, our Khalifa, our King, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II, is now also a Doctor having successfully done his Viva Voce.

    “His PhD was approved as submitted without any amendments or corrections. The examiners said congratulations Dr Sanusi!

    “I am delighted to be able to join the examiners in congratulating Mai Martaba. Alhamdullilah.”

  • Emir of Kano and politicisation of the traditional institution

    Emir of Kano and politicisation of the traditional institution

    By HRH King Appolus Chu, OFR

    The unfolding drama concerning the throne of the Emir of Kano is becoming quite worrisome. It is clearly a situation that shows just how much politicians are overstepping into areas where they ought not to encroach, especially when it concerns the traditional institution. 

    There are a few traditional stools in Nigeria that are revered and venerated in the country and beyond, not just for the clout, profile and sacredness surrounding them, but also because of their rich and long history as well as the size of the domain under the influence of such stools, which has earned them a lot of respect and glory. The throne of the Emir of Kano is one of such stools. 

    Sadly, in recent times we have become witnesses to how political office holders have used their power of incumbency to interfere with the traditional order of the people and make mockery of the revered stool. 

    The stool of the Emir of Kano predates colonialism and the creation of the Nigerian state. Such a revered stool isn’t something that can easily be tampered with without the fear of breakdown of law and order. The situation of Kano can be described as a pot tittering on the edge of toppling over, if politicians do not stop toying with it. 

    In Nigeria, it goes without saying that the traditional institution is the last hope of the people. As a matter of fact, it is the traditional institution that serves as the very foundation for our Nigerianness, which is why in filling most official forms we always find columns that require the endorsements of our traditional rulers. Let us also not forget that the entity known as Nigeria would not exist if the British did not first either sign treaties with or defeat our monarchs and their people in battle. It is a credit to the wisdom of the British that they recognized that they would have struggled ceaselessly in trying to govern the country if they did not recognize the natural and traditional authority of the people, to which the people were already accustomed, hence they did not dare eradicate the traditional institution.  

    Also, it is to their traditional rulers that the people turn when they lose confidence in government. And the government itself relies on the traditional institution to maintain its hold over the people, because it knows that the people always listen to their traditional rulers. When any administration loses control over the public and there is some form of riot or mob action that threatens the collapse of law and order, it is to the traditional institution that both the government and the people turn for direction and guidance. 

    That is because of the respect the people have for their traditional stools, which they regard not only as the throne of their kings, but also as the seat of their cultural and religious values. But in a situation where political office holders begin to overreach and attempt to usurp the ancestral and ancient powers of the traditional stools, where will the common man and the government fall back to when issues arise that need the intervention of the traditional institution? 

    The case in Kano is a situation where political office holders are beginning to politicize the traditional institution, thereby taking away the glory, honour, beauty and prestige of the monarchy; consequently eroding the respect the people have for the throne as well as the control and influence the throne has over the people. 

    We have had instances in this country where both military and civil administrations deposed or dethroned traditional rulers at a whim and the sole interest of whoever was in control of the government of the state or country at the time. In a situation where the stool of the Sultan of Sokoto, the Emir of Kano or any other traditional stool in the country can easily be tampered with by politicians then it is possible for an administration to wake up one morning and decide to proscribe the traditional institution as a whole. That seems to be the direction in which things are going. If the politicians keep having their way in this regard, can they control the people as effectively as the traditional institution is doing?  

    I am from the southern part of the country and I am not in support of what is going on in Kano, because it is a big disrespect to the traditional institution. When they removed Lamido Sanusi as Emir of Kano, no traditional ruler was happy about it, because it’s not about the person on the stool, but about tampering with the sacredness of the throne of the emirate. Unfortunately, the situation today is such that most traditional rulers are scared to talk about what is going on in Kano. 

    They cannot talk because they don’t know if the administration or political office holders will use whatever they say against them. Already, traditional rulers cannot leave their domains for short trips outside their states, even when such trips involve family occasions like the weddings of their children, without obtaining the permission of their governors. 

    Political office holders have so rough-handled most of our traditional stools and their occupants to the point that, although the titles still remain, they are nothing more than ceremonial offices, devoid of real power and influence. 

    Our monarchs no longer have the courage to talk to their subjects who are politicians and advise them when they are going astray, for fear that such politicians may end up holding grudges against them if they do not like their counsel. And, as our recent political history has shown, if the politician eventually finds his way into political office tomorrow, may use that grudge against the traditional ruler to do everything to reduce that traditional ruler to nothing – all because of something that happened some years ago. That is how bad it is. Hence, our royal fathers have been cowed into silence by their political sons, and that is probably one reason for the dysfunctional state of affairs in our country today as our political office holders now see themselves as all-wise and all-conquering overlords who do not need the counsel of anyone.  

    In the face of the current happenings in Kano, traditional rulers cannot remain on the fence and keep quiet as if it does not concern them. Yes, it is commendable that some of us are making moves to certain political quarters in our individual capacities, but that is not enough. It will make more impact in the face of situations like this when the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria calls an emergency meeting of all the traditional rulers of the country and pays a visit to the President or the Governor of the state and speaks out as a unified voice on the matter. It will definitely send a stronger message on the need to respect the traditional institution. But when we do not talk and every traditional ruler pretends as if nothing is wrong, because they feel they are safe in their own domains in the present administration then we should consider ourselves as nothing more than traditional rulers for just a moment. By that I mean that if the administration in power is happy with you for the moment, good luck to you. But if the next administration is headed by someone your forefathers offended years ago or someone who doesn’t have you in their good books, then chances are that you will be dethroned and humiliated by that political office holder. 

    It is indeed sad that the traditional rulers of the country cannot come together as one body to make a statement when situations like this arise, when even commercial motorcycle riders, market sellers and every other group have associations and unions that protect their members. The National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria is the umbrella association of traditional rulers in the country. It should function as an institution for the protection of the sanctity of the traditional institution. We should speak out and condemn the politicization of the traditional institution. If we are not doing that or cannot do so, then we should consider ourselves as only enjoying the privilege we have while it lasts, because the next administration to come may not like our face. 

    The reality of the traditional institution in Nigeria today is that it has become politicized and political office holders are digging their way into the traditional institution, dethroning monarchs they don’t like and using the sacred thrones of the people to settle or compensate their political friends. Even in situations where the stool is hereditary or rotates among a particular family, politicians can easily raise another person from the family who is their friend, to take the throne instead of the rightful person; regardless of whether their appointee is prepared or has been groomed to become a monarch or not. 

    Lastly, I did not expect Lamido Sanusi to come back to resume office as Emir of Kano. The reason being that the stool of Emir of Kano is the glory of their family, and by the time the family succumbs to a situation where persons who are not part of the royal family begin to toss the stool about from one royal family member to the other, then they have lost the dignity and completely watered down the prestige, glory and sacredness of the stool. That is nothing but making a mockery of the throne. He and every other member of the royal family ought to understand that it is only when the throne is powerful that they can enjoy the glory of being royalty. But when they allow others to commonize the throne, then there is nothing for them to glory about because they have become like every other family. 

    A unified emirate signals a stronger throne. I expected that since the emirate has been re-consolidated into one and no longer fragmented, Sanusi would have had the integrity and strength of character to ask whoever is on the unified throne to continue. And this he would have done, for the sake of maintaining their dignity as members of the royal family. Such a sacrifice would uphold the sanctity of the throne and showcase his personality as one who is interested in preserving the relevance and glory of the throne more than his own personal interest. The ball is in his court to pay the price for the sustainability of the glory of their royal family, after all it is on record that he has once been the emir and that honour can never be taken away from him. 

    As a respected statesman, Islamic scholar, promoter of peace and advocate of having things done the right way, he ought to look beyond his personal interest to focus on boosting respect for the throne. There is a saying that an elder cannot sit at home to watch the pregnant tethered goat struggling to give birth. Their revered ancestral stool must not be treated with levity in his time.  

    Indeed the honourable thing would be for him to concede the throne to his cousin, Aminu Ado-Bayero, who is already on the throne, instead of dragging him out to occupy the throne, thereby turning the integrity of what their forefathers laboured to establish into a soap opera. Such an act will surely win him the commendation, respect and celebration of all Nigerians for years and generations to come.

    HRH King Appolus Chu, OFR Oneh-Eh Nchia X Eleme Kingdom, Rivers State Chairman, Interface Committee Between the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria and the National Assembly on Constitutional Amendment and Review

  • Nine things to know about Sanusi’s reinstatement as Emir of Kano

    Nine things to know about Sanusi’s reinstatement as Emir of Kano

    Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on Thursday, May 23, reinstated former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lamido Sanusi as the 14th Emir of Kano.

    Sanusi was dethroned by the Abdullahi Ganduje-led administration after creating an additional four emirates.

    Here are nine things to know about his reinstatement:

    1. Former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje dethroned Sanusi in 2020

    2. The Abdullahi Ganduje-led administration then created an additional four emirates

    3. The Kano Assembly on Thursday dissolved all five emirate councils in the State, declaring Governor Abba Yusuf has the sole constitutional powers to appoint new emir(s).

    4. Deputy Speaker Alhaji Muhammad Bello Butu explained that repealing the law would revive the lost glory of Kano as the division of Kano emirate to five reduced the capacity and dignity of the State at the national level.

    Read Also: BREAKING: New law reinstates Sanusi as Emir of Kano, dethrones Bayero, four others

    5. Speaking to journalists, the majority leader explained that with the amendment of the law, all the five emirate councils were abolished while the commissioner for local governments would serve as the overseer.

    6. Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on Thursday, May 23, reinstated former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lamido Sanusi as the 14th Emir of Kano.

    7. Yusuf also dethroned Alh. Aminu Ado Bayero and four other first-class emirs in the state.

    8. He gave the sacked monarchs 48 hours to hand over to the deputy governor and vacate the palaces.

    9. Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has congratulated His Royal Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II on his reinstatement as the 14th Emir of Kano.

  • Emir of Kano to First Lady: tell president there is hunger in the land

    Emir of Kano to First Lady: tell president there is hunger in the land

    The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, on Monday, February 12, requested that the First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, communicate to the president, the dire economic challenges causing immense suffering, including hunger and starvation, among the masses.

    The monarch expressed his desire for the First Lady to personally convey this message from the palace to the president, her husband.

    He said: “Although we have several means of communicating to the government on our needs and requests, your way and means are the surest way to tell the president the actual happenings in the country.”

    The Emir also spoke on the crises rocking the planned relocation of CBN and FAAN to Lagos.

    He stated: “The hunger and starvation in the land, though didn’t start with this government, but the situation has become worse and needs urgent attention.

    “The issue of insecurity is another serious problem we are facing. I know your government inherited it, but something more serious should be done to take care of the threats.

    “We are receiving a series of messages from our people. One of such messages is the much-talked-about relocation of CBN and FAAN to Lagos. I think the government should come out clean on this matter and talk to Nigerians in the language(s) they would understand.

    “Do more enlightenment on this matter, I for one cannot tell the actual intentions of the government; we should be made to actually understand why the relocation of the CBN and FAAN offices now to Lagos.”

    He commended the First Lady for her care of the well-being and welfare of children and women.

    He advised her to actualise her Renewed Hope Initiative Pet Program, adding that the programme, when fully achieved will free the less privileged from the myriads of problems.

    Expressing worries about girl-child education, the emir of Kano asked the First Lady to critically look at the issues of women and children, especially female kids, and ensure their protection.

    He urged her to continue helping the needy and commended her for supporting the people of Plateau during the conflict there, praying that such gestures should be done to any person in trouble.

    The president’s wife thanked the Kano monarch for the warm reception he accorded her in Kano.

    She promised to take the message and appeals of the Emir to the president, urging Nigerians to be steadfast and support her husband with prayers, assuring that very soon all the challenges would be tackled headlong.

    Read Also: Ohinoyi’s demise: emir of Kano condoles with Bello

    Mrs Tinubu is in Kano to commission a multi-purpose hall named after her at the faculty of Law, Maryam Abacha American University, Kano campus.

    The entourage of the president’s wife included Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jubril; wife of the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Hafsat Abdullahi Ganduje; Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, among others.

  • Emir Sanusi urges Gov. Ganduje to forgive all

    The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II on Saturday organised a special prayer session at the Kano Central Mosque for Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s administration as he is about to enter into his second term in office.

    The session was attended by District Heads, Chief Imam of Kano, scholars, members of the  State Executive Council, Special Advisers among others.

    This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Malam Abba Anwar and made available to newsmen on Saturday in Kano.

    ‎According to the Emir,  the prayer is to seek for Allah’s protection and guidance for the governor’s second term in office and the country as a whole.

    Sanusi explained that forgiveness was necessary in anything that has to do with governance and social relationship, insisting that “misunderstanding is sometime caused by sycophants.

    “It is not bad for anyone to hold on to his or her opinion about happenings in the society. But what is necessary is the fact that after election, all people should come together and see to the successful tenure of government in power.

    Read also: Kano Emir organises special prayer for Ganduje’s second term

    “Because of that, it is necessary that Ganduje administration deserves all necessary support and cooperation for the development of our dear state.

    “We must all come together and make Kano greater. We must work hard and pray incessantly for the rightful development of our state and the nation in general,” the monarch added.

    Sanusi, who prayed for Allah’s protection from the handiwork of sycophants, also said that political , traditional, religious and leaders of the business community should not allow any misunderstanding come in between them.

    “Whoever wants to create confusion and misunderstanding between these categories of leadership, is somebody who goes astray.

    “Such a person doesn’t want the development of our state at all,” he cautioned.

    While calling on the governor to always investigate any story that goes to him, he explains that, sometime people would just fabricate stories and start spreading rumour, with the intention of causing confusion.

    “Sometimes some people will do something without your consent. But some individuals will just go ahead and start spreading rumor that it was you who planned for that. While that thing happens without even your knowledge.

    “So we will keep on praying for a peaceful Kano and for a successful tenure and you to be a leader with large heart, who embraces all.” (NAN )

  • Emir of Kano frowns at renewed political violence

    The Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi 11 has expressed dismay over the recent political upheavals and unrest that led to several bloody attacks on innocent residents by hoodlums in the state.

    Addressing reporters at his Palace on Tuesday, Sanusi called on security agencies to live up to their responsibilities in curbing the ugly trend.

    According to him, the resurgence of political thuggery calls for immediate concerns in the state.

    The Emir said the state is not at war, stating: “We should not rise on to each other’s throats in the name of politics.

    “We should avoid shedding the blood of innocent citizens and wanton destructions of lives and properties.”

    The monarch however urged politicians to play the game by its rules to prevent miscreants from taking advantage to wreak havoc on innocent lives.

    “All I want is for the people to live in peace and harmony and to also vote credible leaders that will have the love of the people at the back of their minds.

    “I urged the security agencies in the state to also brace up and discharged their statutory responsibilities without any fear or favour for peace to continue to reign in the state as well as ensure peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general elections in the country,” he stressed.

    The Emir also called on political party leaders in the state to prevail on their supporters on the inherent dangers of taking the law into their hands.

    He appealed to traditional and religious leaders in the state to embark on the massive mobilisation of the teeming youths in their domains to abhor violence and thuggery for the progress and development of the state.

  • Kano Emirate Council working on bill to tackle rampant divorce cases

    Kano Emirate Council is working on a bill to tackle rampant divorce cases and compel husbands take full responsibilities of their families.

    The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II made the disclosure at a media interactive session on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The emir spoke on the sideline of a conference tagged: ‘Harnessing Demographic Dividend (DD) for sustainable development in Nigeria, the role of religious leaders,’ organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

    Represented by Talban Kano, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim, the Emir said the council would no longer tolerate situations in which men  marry and divorce their wives without taking responsibility of raising their children.

    He said that the committee working on the bill is about rounding up and would soon submit it to the state House of Assembly for legislative process.

    According to him, if the bill is passed and assented to by the executive, the issue of street children will also be curtailed.

    “We have set up committee comprising of reputable judges, Islamic scholars and academics to work on a bill that will give rise to responsible family life.

    “The attitude of our men who marry and divorce any how without taking responsibility of children from such marriages, will be tackled,” he stressed.

    He added that the law would tackle the abandonment of wives and children in the emirate.

    Sunusi expressed the hope that with time, the initiative would be spread to other states of the federation to ensure decent family that would provide basic needs of life to dependents.

    Earlier, the Chairman, National Population Commission, Mr Eze Duruiheoma said he was overwhelmed by the acceptability of the DD in the country.

    Duruiheoma stated that achieving DD is, however, not automatic as certain conditions including education, as such there was need to review the Nigerian education system.

    He said that the 6-3-3-4 system of education adopted in 1988 should be reviewed to meet current technological needs of the country. (NAN)

  • Emir of Kano hails Ganduje

    The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has hailed Governor Abdullahi Ganduje for accommodating non-indigenes.

    The monarch spoke yesterday when the governor visited his palace for iftar.

    He said: “We thank the governor for promoting peaceful coexistence among the people irrespective of affiliations.

    “Kano State is known for accommodating and respecting other people. That is part of the wisdom behind our development. We are lucky to have you (Ganduje).”

    The emir also thanked Ganduje for his fight against drug abuse and urged stakeholders to contribute more towards its total eradication.

    Ganduje lauded the Emir for making the iftar an annual event, saying “with this, I am sure our commitment to the development of our society is renewed.

    “By the grace of Allah, the state is now more peaceful than before and we are thanking Allah for that.

    “We also hail our people for cooperating with security agencies for the peace.”

  • Emir Sanusi wants public officers to undergo drug test

    Emir Sanusi wants public officers to undergo drug test

    The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called for a law that would compel public officers and traditional rulers to undergo drug test in the country.

    He made the call at the Senate Roundtable on drug abuse held in Kano on Monday.

    The event is organised by the Senate in order to address drug abuse epidemic in the country.

    He said the call was necessary in order to ensure that anybody was not allowed to hold political office and traditional leadership positions.

    “I am ready to submit myself for the drug test.

    “I suggest that ministers, governors and traditional rulers should go for drug test because when youths understand that they cannot be governors, ministers or senators if they are drug addicts, they will be into their senses.

    “The country is facing a great danger because the fight against drug abuse has to be taken seriously if we are to succeed,’’ he said.

    Read also: I’ll remain an agent of change, says Emir Sanusi

    While calling for effective implementation of the laws against drug abuse in the country, the first class traditional ruler also urged the Senate to ensure proper funding of all agencies charged with the responsibility to enforce the laws.

    “We are deceiving ourselves if we don’t believe that we are part of the problem,’’ Sanusi said.

    Besides, the emir called for the establishment of modern rehabilitation centres for victims of drug abuse in the six geo-political zones of the country.

    He said when established, the centres should be equipped with necessary facilities and personnel to enable them take care of the teeming numbers of victims of the drug abuse.

    He said the measure was necessary in order to ensure that those addicts were rehabilitated and trained in various skills to enable them be reintegrated into the society.

    He, however, called for adequate funding of the centres to enable them operate effectively and serve the purpose for which they are established.

    NAN