By Indeed, Some sets of people are naturally designed to see what the future holds. Here is a Facebook user and also a blogger, Kayode Badmus based in Lagos predicted the fate of the former Emir of Kano State Sanusi Lamido 3 years ago, 3rd May 2020.
In a post shared on the most used social media platform Facebook, Kayode said, ” If they Remove Sanusi as Emir of Kano, We would vote him as Nigerian President…. #Towhomitmayconcern.
Recall that, Mahammadu Sanusi II was dethroned on 9th March 2020 for showing ” insubordination” to the authorities in the Northern state of Kano.
Sanusi was an ex- central bank chief has had frosty relations with Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje since 2017. His supporters believe he was sacked for opposing Ganduje since 2017.
Traditional leaders in Nigeria hold few constitutional powers but are able to exert significant influence as they are seen as custodians of both religion and tradition.
Mr Sanusi was seen as a reformist and had been critical of some government policies- a stance that frequently put him at loggerheads with ruling politicians.
Since the emir and governor fell out, Mr Sanusi has not attended state functions and official meetings, which the government said amounted to “total insubordination”.
The emir’s refusal to appear before a panel investigating allegations of corruption against him also did not go down well with the government. He is accused of selling property and mismanaging funds but he secured a court order stopping the probe.
After last year’s election, Mr Ganduje, who is a powerful figure within Nigeria’s governing All Progressives Congress (APC) party, split the Kano emirate into five and appointed four more emirs – to weaken Mr Sanusi’s influence. Mr Sanusi is not shy about voicing his opinions, while some say is a break with the tradition that an emir is seen and not heard. In the past, he criticised what he described as the “ultra-conservative interpretation of Islam” in some parts of northern Nigeria that has discouraged the education of girls, family planning and other progressive policies.
Aminu Ado Bayero, the son of Mr Sanusi’s predecessor who ruled Kano for more than half a century until his death in 2014, has been chosen as the new emir by the local authorities.
The government said he was removed “in order to safeguard the sanctity, culture, tradition, religion and prestige of the Kano emirate”, accusing the emir of “total disrespect” of institutions and the governor’s office.
Abass Latifat
