Court Stops Ganduje From Splitting Kano Emirate

A High Court sitting in Kano on Friday stopped Governor Abdullahi Ganduje from implementing the decentralisation of Kano Emirate.

Ganduje had on Wednesday signed into a law a bill creating four additional emirates in the state.

The court also stopped the Kano State House of Assembly and the attorney-general of the state from recognising the new four emirates.

An exparte motion, dated May 10, 2019, and filed by one Hon Sule Gwarzo, before Justice Nasiru Saminu, had asked the court to restrain the respondents from taking any action of creating four additional emirates.

In an order of interim injunction, the court directed all parties in this suit to maintain status quo, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The move has been widely viewed as a move aimed at reducing the influence of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi.

Meanwhile, Ganduje has defended his decision to create four additional emirates in the state, denying accusations that the aim is to ridicule the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.

Ganduje insisted there was no vendetta against the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, but the latest move was meant to bring the traditional institution into full participation in governance.

The governor, who spoke with State House correspondents in Abuja, also dismissed the views that he had destroyed Kano’s cherished heritage dating back to 800 years.

He stated that those holding such views were entitled to their opinions.

Ganduje added, “Well, they are entitled to their own opinion but we are taking Kano to the next level and we need active participation of the traditional system, especially in the areas of education, security, agriculture, we need the effectiveness of the traditional rulers.

“By decentralising it, we are following history. Years back even before the 800 years you are referring to, the situation was not like that. So, if something developed 800 years ago, things are also developing now and there will be another 800 years. So, look at the history.”

On whether he was going after Sanusi for political reasons, the governor said he had nothing against the emir.

He argued that by law, Sanusi ordinarily should be reporting to a local government chairman and not the state governor.

Ganduje added, “It is not vendetta; I am not against him, in fact he is supposed to be reporting to the local government chairman according to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is the local government chairman that he is supposed to discuss issues with, and not the governor. So, this is celebrated by the people of Kano and we will make sure that the new emirate councils are effective in terms of developing Kano State.”

The new emirates are Gaya, Rano, Karaye and Bichi.

The governor signed the bill passed by the state House of Assembly to create the emirates into law on Thursday.

The signing of the bill, “Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) (Amendment) Law 2019”, took place almost immediately the House transmitted it to Ganduje.

With the creation of the new emirates, the Kano emirate, which hitherto, controlled all the 44 local governments in the state, is left with only 10 LGs.

This also means that the N180m the 44 LGs draw from government allocation for traditional council operations and other services will now be spread across the five emirate councils.

Meanwhile, the governor on Friday appointed four new emirs in the state, 48 hours after he assented to the bill.

The new emirs and their new domains, according to TheCable are Aminu Ado Bayero, Bichi; Ibrahim Abdulkadir, Gaya; Tafida Abubakar, Rano; and Ibrahim Abubakar, Karaye.

Ado Bayero is one of the sons of the predecessor of the incumbent Kano emir.

The new emirs are expected to receive their letters of appointment and staff of office at a ceremony to be held at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Saturday.

Ganduje was said to have informed the appointed emirs of their elevation and directed them to begin preparations for their new assignment.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Al-Hassan Kabiru Rurum, on Friday dismissed claims that the creation of four new emirates in the state would reduce Sanusi’s influence.

Commenting on the passage of the pension bill for former Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the Assembly, he said, “When the governors and their deputies, with enormous resources at their disposal, are enjoying their pension and gratuity, nobody raised an eyebrow.

“At the Assembly, we make law for all the people of the state and as far as we are concerned there is nothing bad in remembering those who served the state diligently because when you see some former governors today, they are in a pitiful condition, so there is need to assist them. During their days, they contributed to the socio-economic development of the state.

“As far, as we are concerned, the bill is a very good one and for your information, I as the Speaker of the Assembly will not benefit from it for now because I have been elected as a member of the House of Representatives.

“In the bill, anybody, including former governor, deputy governor, speaker or deputy speaker serving as an appointee or elected into an office will not benefit from it because the bill forbids you to enjoy two pensions at a time. We are doing this in order to assist those who are out of government either by election or by appointment.”