A surprising political moment unfolded in Kano on Tuesday as former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje publicly acknowledged Muhammad Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and Chairman of the Kano State Council of Emirs.
Ganduje’s statement came during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Deputy Governor, Murtala Sule Garo, held at the Goveenment House, an event that attracted top political and traditional figures.
The former governor who dethroned Sanusi II 2018 while delivering his goodwill message, referred to Sanusi with his full royal title, a gesture that immediately drew attention from dignitaries present at the occasion.
The audience responded with loud applause when Ganduje greeted Sanusi and further acknowledged his position as head of the Kano Emirate Council, signaling approval of the unexpected recognition.
The development is particularly significant given the history between the two figures, following Sanusi’s removal from the throne in 2018 during Ganduje’s tenure as governor, a move that triggered widespread political and legal debate at the time.
However, the political landscape shifted after the emergence of Abba Kabir Yusuf, under whose administration Sanusi was reinstated as Emir of Kano, further deepening the symbolic importance of Tuesday’s acknowledgment.
Ganduje’s public reference to Sanusi as Emir reflects a notable softening of political tensions and may indicate a broader attempt at reconciliation within Kano’s elite political and traditional circles.
The moment is already being interpreted as a “twist of fate” in Kano politics, where past rivalries appear to be giving way to cautious gestures of respect and recognition among long-standing political actors.
