The creation of new emirates in Kano state has continued to generate comments, for and against the state government’s decision. BASHIR MOHAMMED examines the circumstances surrounding the creation of the emirates.
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state is currently facing a litmus test of his career as a politician, having taken the tough political decision to fragment the Kano emirate by creating four new emirates.
This decision did not gone down well with a section of Kano indigenes who believe the governor had negatively changed the course of history since the time the ruling Fulani dynasty came on stream, right from the time of emirs Suleiman, Ibrahim Dabo, Usman, Bello, Abdullahi Maje Karofi ,Abbas and down to the late Bayero.
Even at the time the colonial expansionist policy was at its peak, the Kano monarchy by its solid composition had been allowed to wax stronger with the ruling aristocrats calling the shots without the monarchy being fragmented. And this made Kano to enjoy an unfettered leverage within the traditional authority.
It is worth noting that feathers were ruffled at the time the first civilian governor of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi, heroically opened the Pandora’s Box in 1981, when he fragmented the Kano emirate councils into four enclaves, precipitating a crisis that nearly consumed the ancient city.
History
Royal historians had on several occasions faulted the late political icon, Alhaji Rimi, for taking the gauntlet in doing what his predecessors failed to do for fear of reprisals from the much-dreaded Mafioso, till the time when his successor, the late Alhaji Sabo Bakin Zuwo, used his swagger stick to crush such controversial decision.
The present cacophony of debates over the new emirates is assuming a different dimension with each passing day with fears that the once solid and most vibrant monarchy is on the brink of extinction.
For such a widely held impression to be corrected, Aminu Ado Bayero, the new emir of Bichi, said the influence of the much-revered monarchy still remains intact. According to him, the new emirs will continue to discharge their respective responsibilities in line with the norms and tradition of the established order guiding their conducts and operations.
He, however, said he had taken the decision to accept his appointment as a first class emir by the governor based on his conviction that “in every dispensation change is inevitable.”
Ado Bayero also said since the appointment of his late father as the emir of Kano in 1963, a lot of eventful changes had taken place in terms of transformation with the late monarch himself accepting such changes.
He said knowing the antecedents of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, he would never be opposed to his appointment as the new emir of Bichi.
According to him, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, who hails the same blue-blooded family, is his brother with no traces of ill-feeling or bad blood.
Bayero, who pledged to work assiduously to fulfill his obligation as a monarch appointed to serve his people, thanked his friends, supporters, well-wishers and the people of Bichi Emirate Council for according him a rousing welcome when he was officially presented with the staff of office by Governor Ganduje.
Stakeholders react
However, pundits and notable opinion leaders in Kano have continued to question the governor’s decision to create the new emirates without far-reaching consultations.
Critics of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II are of the view that the fire-brand monarch had overstepped his bounds by strongly criticising President Muhammadu Buhari for ‘operating a lame-duck.’
Alhaji Sanusi II is also viewed in some quarters as having extended his war of attrition to the door steps of the governor by bashing him and his administration for seeking to access loans from China for the construction of a rail project in Kano. His criticism of the administration is said to have been viewed by the governor as ‘poke-nosing’ into his leadership affairs.
The seeming ideological war between the governor and Alhaji Sanusi II reached its climax with the allegation of financial shady deals levelled against the Kano emirate council which almost cost his throne, but for the prompt intervention of respected elders.
Again, the emir is said to have overstepped his bounds by making pronouncements that directly supported the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, including the allegation that he had provided slush funds for the purpose of ensuring the party’s victory.
These allegations led to a strained relationship between the emir and the governor, even as the people’s suspicion may have been confirmed with the signing into law the bill leading to the creation of the emirate councils by the House of Assembly.
Royal historians and those opposed to the creation of the emirates insist that in an ideal democratic setting, certain issues are bound to be agreed on or dismissed for all shades of opinion to be accommodated.
According to a renowned royal historian, who is also a senior lecturer with the Department of History, Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad Naniya, the Kano emirate council had almost been reduced to a rubble in the manner it has been fragmented.
He said, “The Kano emirate council had been known to be in existence for over one thousand years without being fragmented. I can’t imagine the rationale behind this unpopular decision. The Kano Emirate Council under the leadership of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II had demonstrated its capacity in dealing with issues affecting the well-being of the masses. Splitting it at this material point in time to me is counter-productive.
“I find it not compelling for the Kano state government to take this hasty decision. What we need is for the state government to look into grey areas that are in need of reforms to suit the prevailing reality. To me, the creation is a major drawback that would only turn the hands of the clock backward to the detriment of the entire People of Kano.”
Sounding a discordant tune on the issue, the secretary to the Kano state government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, said the creation of the new emirates “is a good omen to the people of Kano as it will create jobs and enhance speedy economic development.”
“What the state government did was in the right direction. Those opposing the creation are unnecessarily being petty,” he said.
But in the words of a resident of the emir’s palace, who asked not to be named in print, dividing the emirate was simply orchestrated to make Emir Sanusi restive and uncomfortable.
“What I want people to understand is the fact that Governor Ganduje has the flair to destroy the monarchy in Kano by splitting it into pieces he was pretending that he took such a decision on reasons of economy and security. We are not convinced because we understand that his decision was politically motivated,” he said.
Experts’ opinions
However, for Kano-based legal practitioner, Barrister Ibrahim Barwa, it would be preposterous for one to believe that Governor Ganduje took a unilateral decision by acting hastily. He said the creation of the new emirates was effected in accordance with the law and that it was the House of Assembly that passed the bill, not the governor.
He said the decision of the governor was in line with the law and that those challenging the signing of the bill into law are only doing it out of egocentric permutations.
Speaking in the same vein, a renowned Kano-based legal practitioner, Barrister Yusuf Mukhtar, said from the point of law what Governor Ganduje did was right since the bill he signed into law was passed by the House of Assembly which has the constitutional power to do so.
“I have been a lawyer for three decades. What the governor did was right under the law and it stands. Nobody can tell me that it was a unilateral decision even if the kingmakers challenging the emirates’ creation in court would engage the services of one thousand lawyers nothing would happen. I am not going to be biased or carried away by sugar-coated sentiment. We have to face reality.
“The new emirate councils we are talking about had been existing even before the advent of Shehu Usman Danfodio. He came and met these emirates existing, they are not new. Ask every royal historian who has an in-depth knowledge of the traditional institution, he would confirm to you that these emirates have been in existence for over nine hundred years,” he said.
However, in areas where such new emirates were created, it was a galore of praise and hat-doffing for Governor Ganduje, for mooting the idea of injecting succour into the lives of those in dire need of effective royal presence in their areas. The jubilation that greeted the presentation of staff of office to the new emirs gives the impression that the creation was not a cruel hoax designed to deceive and divide them.
In Rano Emirate Council, the opinion of the people is primarily hinged on the fact that the town had for centuries had a history of monarchical institutions right from the time of the descendants of Bayajidda, who led the conquest for the establishment of the emirates which should be uphold and preserved for cogent historical reasons.
An indigene of the Rano Emirate, Alhaji Nuhu Maidoya, told our correspondent that those opposed to the creation of the new emirates are enemies of progress, whose reactionary disposition had made them to be utterly myopic.
He said at a time like this, when insecurity has become endemic; emirs had a spectacular role to play in fighting insecurity.
“Take, for example, what is happening in Falgore Forest, where kidnapping and cattle rustling was on prowl in recent time, our new emir would be in the best position to sit with stakeholders in the areas affected, since the Falgore Forest is under the jurisdiction of the Rano Emirate Council. Here, you can clearly see the importance of establishing the new emirate in this area.
“On the issue of irrigation farming, our farmers are in need of the support of the traditional institutions to move forward. What we need most is action not window dressing. We have to look at this issue of emirate creation with utmost objectivity,” he said.
In Gaya Emirate Council, in the same vein, it was gathered that there was a pocket of resistance from Wudil town indicating that the people were not ready to pay allegiance and pay homage to the new emir. This was later found to be untrue according to a recent communiqué by Wudil Patriotic Group after a meeting it recently held with notable stakeholders in the area.
According to the group, it sees the creation of the new Gaya Emirate Council as a veritable tool for speedy economic social and political development that could enhance the lives of the people. It stated that it is in total support of the creation and the domiciling of Wudil town under Gaya Emirate Council.
“It said the people of Wudil, wishes to extend their gratitude to Kano state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and the Kano state House of Assembly for creating the four additional emirate councils. The people of Wudil would continue to be in support of all acts and activities that will foster the development of Wudil, Kano state and Nigeria in general.”
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) during a solidarity visit to the new Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, described the creation of the new emirates as “a good omen that will open doors for socio-economic development of Kano state.”
The youth in their hundreds thronged the emir’s palace in Bichi Town, displaying pro-Governor Ganduje’s placards.
Speaking during the visit, NYCN national president, Comrade Aliyu Hydar Maikasuwa, described the creation of the new emirates as “a step in the right direction.”
According to him, Governor Ganduje deserves commendation to have created the emirates which he said will spread development to the people.
“We have come to the palace to show our solidarity with His Highness, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero. We align ourselves with Governor Ganduje’s action and we make bold to say that his decision deserve commendation.
“Kano state is the most populous state in the country and we see nothing wrong in the creation of the new emirates. We are also aware of the fact that these emirates have been in existence years back and Governor Gnduje’s decision to upgrade the emirates and appoint first class Emirs to man them is what every leader with foresight will do.
“We also wish to use this opportunity to urge those who are opposed to the creation of these new emirates to think twice and lend their support to this noble cause that is designed to develop Kano, ensure peace, security and unity across the state,” he stated.
Also speaking, the chairman, NYCN Kano chapter, Comrade Kabiru Ado Lakwaya, said the group was delighted over Governor Ganduje’s decision to carve out new emirates, adding that it is in line with the Gandujiyya administration agenda for ensuring unity and development in Kano state.
According to him, Kano people have for long anticipated the creation of the new emirates, pointing out that the step was taken towards enhancing better life and welfare of the good people of Kano state.
Responding, Emir Amunu Ado Bayero thanked the youth, stating that he would continue to use his good offices to ensure peace, unity and progress of the people.
He appealed to the people to embrace peace and support Governor Ganduje’s efforts towards ensuring that the lost glory of Kano state was restored.
