(Sanusi: Why I Vacated Kano Emir Stool)
BY Ismail Auwal
The dethroned emir of Kano State and Khalifa of Tijjaniya, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has, for the first time, spoken about his removal, saying he made a deliberate choice to vacate the throne.
The Khalifa, who celebrated his birthday on 31st July, spoke in a featured interview with THISDAY Newspaper.
Sanusi said in the interview, “I objected to my state government borrowing $1.8bn for a light rail project, with all the out of school children, malnutrition and low HDI indices we had.
“I also called for free and fair elections and advised the people to vote for honest and patriotic leaders who were competent.
“This, to me, was my duty as Emir. I do not know if these things led to my being “targeted” as you say, but I do know that no one can escape the Divine decree. When God says your time is up, it is up.”
“Not doing what I believe is right can never get me one more day on the throne than decreed by God. When that day comes, I would leave the throne dead or alive.
“You may be right because the letter given to me accused me of “insubordination to Government”, he said.
Khalifa further said, “The sum of the matter is, I made a deliberate choice to give up a position with my honour intact and my head held high rather than to bow to arrogant power and humiliate myself in order to remain in office.
“It was a choice I made knowingly; I am proud of myself and happy with my life. And, God continues to uplift me and grow me from strength to strength.”
Responding to a question on the way he criticized governments, Khalifa said, “When I was an ’employed’ Emir and fully conscious of the vulnerabilty of my position, I did not stop. I have always said that if as a prince
you keep quiet, when there is a need to speak up, out of fear of political authority, you are not a prince but a slave wearing a turban.”
On his role as Khalifa, he noted, “Now, my title as Khafila in Nigeria is about
unifying the movement, activating all that latent energy, and seeing how 50 million Muslims can address contemporary challenges around education, economic empowerment, social reform and good governance in our country.”
Muhammadu Sanusi was on March 2020 dethroned by tge Kano State Government as an Emir of Kano State for alleged “insubordination” to Government, and being a “Social Critic” by the State Governor in an interview with the Channels TV.
The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, said that the Emir was removed “in order to safeguard the sanctity, culture, tradition, religion and prestige of the Kano Emirate built over a thousand years ago.”
“The Emir of Kano is in total disrespect to lawful instructions from the office of the state governor and other lawful authorities, including his persistent refusal to attend official meetings and programmes organized by the government without any lawful justification which amount to total insubordination”, he added.
Mr. Alhaji further explained that the deposed Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II had breached part 3 section 13 (a-e) of the Kano State Emirate law of 2019 and had to be removed after consultations with relevant stakeholders.
