The Kano State House of Assembly has dissolved the four newly created emirate councils established under the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
Legislative Decision
During a plenary session on Thursday, the Assembly deliberated on and passed the Kano State Emirates Council Amendment Bill after it successfully scaled through its second and third readings.
Revival of Kano’s Glory
Deputy Speaker Muhammad Butu explained that repealing the law would help restore Kano’s historical prestige. He argued that dividing the Kano emirate into five reduced the state’s capacity and dignity on a national level.
Cultural Integrity
Majority Leader Alhaji Lawan Dala emphasized that the creation of the additional emirates had distorted the cultural integrity that the original emirate council upheld.
Abolishment of New Emirates
With the amendment, all four newly established emirate councils were abolished, leaving only the Kano Emirate intact. The House also adopted a motion to establish a new second-class emirate council in the state.
Background and Future Implications
In May, it was reported that the House had initiated steps to amend the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, which could potentially facilitate the return of the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II.
In January 2024, former Kano governor and Kwankwasiyya movement leader, Sen. Rabi’u Kwankwaso, hinted that the issue of Kano emirates would be revisited. He suggested that the actions taken under Ganduje’s administration, including the division of the emirate and the dethronement of Emir Sanusi II, were executed with ill intentions.
Looking Ahead
Kwankwaso affirmed that the current administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf would review the previous decisions regarding the emirates. He expressed confidence that the appropriate measures would be taken to address the situation:
“Honestly, it (the Kano Emirates issue) is one of the things that nobody has sat with me to discuss so far, but I am sure we are going to sit and see how to go about it. Is it going to be allowed, demolished, corrected, or whatever? It will be revisited, and what’s supposed to be done will be done.
“There were a lot of things, and this was a trap. All these things were not done in good faith or intention. It was brought with some bad intentions which everyone here and our listeners are aware of.
“Sometimes you come with things that are good and they turn out to be bad while sometimes you bring bad things and they turn out to be good. So, all I know is that I was not consulted as of now, but definitely, we will come to discuss and see what should be done.”
