…Buhari played no role in ex-CBN gov’s dethronement as Kano emir- Presidency
…No, President ordered Sanusi’s sack, says Kwankwaso
…Sanusi’s removal purely Kano affair, Ganduje replies ex-Gov
By Olubiyi Taiwo
The Presidency and former Kano State Governor, Senator Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Wednesday, traded words over the dethronement of Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II, as the emir of Kano.
Recall that Sanusi was dethroned on Monday by the Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje, over (alleged insubordination and disobedience to) orders from the state government
Reacting to the dethronement of the former CBN governor, the Presidency, on Wednesday, said President Muhammadu Buhari is not involved whatsoever in the dethronement of Muhammadu Sanusi II from the exalted position of emir of Kano.
In a statement, signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the Presidency highlighted that all insinuations that Buhari was involved in the dethronement are untrue, malicious and politically motivated.
“The President does not have a history of intervening in the affairs of any state in the country, unless the issue at hand is of national consequence.
On such matters which impinge on national security, he has a duty of involvement as the law stipulates.
“As outlined in the constitution, the appointment or removal of emirs and other traditional leaders is strictly within the jurisdiction of state governments. It is unfair and disingenuous of opposition politicians to try to link the situation in Kano State to the Federal Government and the President.
“Although, a retired general and former military head of state, President Buhari clearly understands that under the current democratic dispensation, the government at the centre cannot read instructions or twist the arms of all or any of the 36 state governments making up the federation.
They all have their powers specified under the constitution.
“President Buhari commends the people of Kano for keeping calm in the past few days of the dethronement announcement.
He prays that the will of Allah will be done at all times, and that the emirate/state and its people continue to experience progress irrespective of who is on the throne,” the statement asserted.
However, former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, holds a different perspective to the entire saga, accusing President Buhari of giving the order to dethrone Muhammadu Sanusi II as emir.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa, Kwankwaso alleged that Buhari instructed officials of the Ganduje administration to plot and execute the dethronement and banishment of the monarch.
Kwankwaso, who appointed Sanusi as emir in 2014, however, said while Buhari said he would not interfere in the dispute between Ganduje and Sanusi, the president influenced his removal.
He described Sanusi’s dethronement as a sad development, saying no responsible government would have taken such a step.
“Let me begin by saying today is a very sad day in Kano, Nigeria and by extension in the entire world, because His Highness the Emir of Kano (Sanusi) is a global person. “What we have seen is very sad because there is no responsible government that is supposed to take the kind of step taken by Kano State Government by dethroning Emir Muhammad Sanusi II,” Kwankwaso said.
“However, like people who are close to President Muhammadu Buhari often say that the President does not intervene in disputes; that, if people are in dispute the President just keeps quiet, but we in Kano do not see him (President Muhammadu Buhari) like that; we see him like he selects where he intervenes.
“And where he is supposed to intervene, he doesn’t, but where he is not supposed to intervene, that is where he does.
“You see leaders here in Kano State government themselves are saying they were given the order to dethrone the emir.
He (President Muhammadu Buhari) is the one that gave them the order. Here in Kano as we see, Buhari destabilises whereever he puts his hands,” he added.
Kwankwaso also said Sanusi should have been allowed to choose his place of relocation rather than being forced somewhere.
But in a quick reaction, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has revealed that the removal of the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, is the sole responsibility of state government based on valid reasons that led to his travail.
A press statement signed by the Chief press secretary Abba Anwar, made available to the Salient Times on Wednesday, Governor Ganduje said it is baseless and absolutely untrue to say the Presidency has a hand in this development as insinuated by the former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
According to the governor, Nigerians could recall that few weeks back, President Muhammadu Buhari made categorical statement through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu that he didn’t have any constitutional right to delve into Kano Emirate matters.
The former emir, the governor added, breached Part 3, Section 13 (a-e) of the Kano State Emirate Law 2019, which, if left unchecked would destroy the good and established image of the Kano Emirate.
“This Law is Kano State Law, not that of the Federal Government. So there is no point at all in linking this punishment with any other organ apart from Kano State government.
“So I wonder when someone would just appear from somewhere and alleged that the Presidency has a hand in Muhammadu Sanusi’s removal.
Reasons behind his dethronement were stated clearly without any ambiguity, “said Governor Ganduje.
He further clarified that whoever links Presidency with this dethronement is either he has other ulterior motive behind this or he is not in tune with reality.
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