Worried over the unfolding events following the creation of four additional emirate council in Kano state, the Umbrella of 35 Kano Concerned Civil Society Groups, on Wednesday, condemned in strongest terms, the action and activities of the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi 11 and urged him to stop challenging constituted authorities and declare loyalty to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The Group regretted that Emir Sanusi and some people with vested interest are generating tension in the state over the newly created four Emirate Councils of Rano, Karaye, Bichi and Gaya, describing their actions as unfortunate and detrimental to the development of Kano state.
They, however, described Ganduje’s decision to create more Emirate Councils in the state as not only constitutional, but a step towards attracting more development.
Addressing journalists at Kano State Library Complex, the chairman of the Group, Comrade Ibrahim Ali expressed worry that, “the Governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje failed short to his responsibility for upholding and defending the constituted authorities of his powers as the Governor of Kano state by allowing the Emir of Kano to continue to undermine his authority as a Governor.”
He also called on Ganduje to exercise his constitutional powers on the issue so that the matter will be roundly resolved.
The Group insisted that, “the Emir of Kano shall submit himself to the authority of the state as this will stop the current destruction and generation of controversy.
“If the Emir of Kano failed to submit to the authority of the government of Kano state, we call on the Governor of Kano state, in a strongest term, to act strictly in accordance with the provision of Kano Emirate Council Law 2019 in order to move the state forward.
“The action of the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi 11 of continuing undermining the constituted authority of the government of Kano state and its organs is not only unconstitutional, but is an effort to create a state within a state which no responsible leadership will tolerate and allow to remain unabated.”
According to him, “the so-called elders making reference to 1000 years old heritage are completely derailing from the reality because letters and spirits of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provided that, all authorities draw their legitimacy from the constitution.”
They hailed the recent court judgment by a Kano High Court which upheld the powers of Governor Ganduje over the Kano Emirs.
Ali Maintained that, “leadership in Nigeria is provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) under which the Governor of Kano state, the State House of Assembly and, indeed, the judiciary are established.
“Therefore, any other component or form of government must be in accordance with the existing legal order as witnessed in the enactment of Kano state Emirate Council Law 2019 and all other laws for order and good governance of the state.”
