The recently enacted Kano Emirate Councils Law not only reinstates the five demoted kingmakers to their former positions but also authorizes them to reconvene and reinstall former Central Bank of Nigeria governor Muhammadu Sanusi as the sole Emir of Kano.
The law mandates that “the Governor shall take all necessary measures to restore the status of the Kano Emirate System to its positions prior to the enactment of the repealed Principal Law dated 5th December, 2019.”
This directive empowers the State Government to reappoint Sanusi as the Emir of Kano, reversing the changes brought by the previous law.
Additionally, the law stipulates that “the traditional office holders and title holders elevated or appointed to office created under the repealed Principal Law, dated 5th December, 2019, shall revert to their position where such positions previously existed under recognized custom and traditions prior to the enactment of the repealed Principal Law dated 5th December, 2019.”
This provision effectively reinstates the five demoted kingmakers and empowers them to choose the new Emir, whose appointment will then be endorsed by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
The commissioner responsible for Local Government is tasked with overseeing all transitional arrangements, including managing the assets and liabilities of the abolished emirates and the new structures created under the repealed Principal Law dated 5th December, 2019.
This role ensures a smooth transition and proper handling of the changes in the Kano Emirate system.
The reinstatement of the kingmakers and the potential reappointment of Sanusi as the Emir of Kano marks a significant shift in the traditional leadership structure in Kano.
It underscores the State Government’s commitment to restoring the emirate to its former status and adhering to the customs and traditions that have long governed the region.