Former Vice President Abubakar Atiku has condemned the deployment of soldiers in Kano over the emirship tussle in the ancient commercial city and capital of Kano State.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu – led administration should be reminded that Kano State is known for peace and harmony spanning thousands of years.
Atiku also warned that any attempt to destabilise the peace of the Land of Commerce shall be resisted.
The Turaki Adamawa recalled that when Muhammadu Sanusi II was dethroned on 9th March 2020, Kano forged on in peace without any fracas, insinuating that nobody should tinker with the peace of the residents because the shoe is now on the other side.
Full text of Abubakar Atiku’s Post Shared On X platform
“The action of the Federal Government in deploying soldiers in Kano in the tussle over the throne of the ancient city is an upset to the peace and security of the state and also in breach of the 1999 Constitution as Amended.
In performing their constitutional duties of law-making, the Kano State House of Assembly (KSHA) passed the amended Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024 in consonance with the provision of Section 4 of the Constitution 1999 as Amended, whereas the Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf subsequently signed the bill into law. The law, therefore, repealed the 2019 version, which balkanised the ancient Kano Emirate into five.
The foregoing circumstances happened within the confines of the law and in compliance with the powers conferred on the Governor as provided by Section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended; and also in consultation with the Kingmakers of Kano, reappointed Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (also known as Muhammadu Sanusi II) as the 16th Emir of Kano State and accordingly handed him a letter of appointment.
It is surprising that in the early hours of today, at or about 5:30 am, the former Emir of Kano, His Majesty Aminu Ado Bayero, backed by Federal might, made their way into the Nasarawa Palace of the Kano Emirate while the reappointed Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II was at the Gidan Dabo, which is the main residence of the Emir of Kano.
We need to remind the Tinubu administration that Kano State is known for peace and harmony spanning thousands of years, and any attempt to destabilise the peace of the Land of Commerce shall be resisted. Recall that when Muhammadu Sanusi II was dethroned on 9th March 2020, Kano forged on in peace without any fracas.”
Similarly, a coalition of 18 Ulamas in Kano called on President Tinubu to intervene in Kano emirship imbroglio and not allow it to degenerate into a major crisis.
The group stayed, “Kano State is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria despite its political complexity. The recent happenings in the Emirate if not carefully handled could escalate and degenerate into chaos. It is imperative for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take all necessary steps to maintain peace in the State. While it is the purview of the State House of Assembly to enact Laws for good governance, the State Government needs the cooperation and support of the Federal Government.
“The State Assembly amended the Kano State Emirates Law and the Governor assented. One person took the case to Court that the law violates his Fundamental Human Rights. He is entitled to his rights. The State Governor also has responsibility as the Chief Executive of the State as the act in question has already been completed. Therefore there is no need for violent enforcement of any order or violent resistant to it, and we vehemently oppose any measures that will bring escalation of conflict in the State.
“Mr. President as the leader of the nation should not allow the contest for a royal stool to degenerate to violence. We are calling on Mr. President to allow the people of Kano State to resolve these issues amicably without use of any force and loss of lives. Kano State is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria, therefore we the undersigned call on both contending parties to use civil means in resolving their differences to allow peace to reign in the state. As major stakeholders in the state, we want to assure Mr. President that we shall reach out to contenders.
“May the Almighty Allah bring peace and prosperity to our nation as a whole.
Shaykh Abdullahi Uwais Limanci
Shaykh Ibrahim Khalil
Shaykh Abdulwahab Abdallah
Shaykh Nasir Adam
Shaykh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa
Shaykh Bashir Tijani Usman
Shaykh Sukraij Salgha
Khalifah Tuhami Shaykh Atiku
Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar
Khalifah Hassan Shaykh Sani Kafinga
Shaykh Abba Adam Koki
Shaykh Ibrahim Shehu Maihula
Professor Muhammad Babangida Muhammad
Shaykh Jamil al Qadiri
Shaykh Ali Abdulkadir Abdulkadir
Dr. Abdulmutallib Ahmad Muhammad
Dr. Khidir Bashir Abdulhamid
Shaykh Aminu Adam.”
