Axed CBN governor now Kano Emir

By Lawrence Olaoye, Abuja & Edwin Olofu, Kano.

Suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has been named the replacement for the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

Sanusi was named the new Kano Emir yesterday by the Secretary to the Kano State Government (SSG), Alhaji Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, at the Government House in Kano.

But the announcement was trailed by protest in some parts of the city by people largely believed to be supporters of Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero, the eldest son of the immediate past monarch, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

Bichi had told newsmen that: “Under state customary law, the kingmakers comprising the Madaki, Sarkin Bai, Makaman and Sarkin Dawaki Maituta had sat down and forwarded three names to the government to choose the one that will succeed the Late Emir Ado Abdullahi Bayero.

“Out of these three names the government has approved Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Dan Majen Kano, and former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as the new Emir of Kano,” the SSG said.

It was learnt that those shortlisted alongside Sanusi include Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero (Ciroman Kano), and Alhaji Abbas Sanusi (Wamban Kano).

Also at the press conference by the SSG were the kingmakers, Sarkin Dawaki Maituta, Bello Abubakar; Sarkin Bai, Mukhtar Adnan; Makama, Sarki Ibrahim and Madaki, Yusuf Nabahani Ibrahim. There were also commissioners of information and state affairs, Abubakar Danburam and Aminu Abdulsalam.

Sources in Kano said the protesters were supporters of the Ciroman Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero, whose name was widely peddled earlier yesterday by some online media platforms, as the new monarch.

According to a report on PREMIUM TIMES, a message was sent earlier yesterday to the Ciroma while he was at the palace receiving condolences that he needed to go and get set for turbanning in case he was the one selected, and that many of his supporters followed him to his private residence with most of them assuming that he must have been selected since he was getting set for turbanning.

“Unknown to many, both nominees were required to be ready whether they will eventually be selected or not, but many misconstrued the order and were shocked when Sanusi Lamido was eventually announced and they are the ones protesting now”, a source told the medium.

The state governor Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso told newsmen on Saturday that the kingmakers submitted the list of nominees to the government, promising to make the announcement of the new emir yesterday.