Some citizens of Kano State staged a protest on Sunday around the palace of the Emir of Kano following the announcement of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as the new Emir.
Witnesses said the demonstration began at Kofar Kudu area, near the emir’s palace, shortly after Alhaji Ado Bayero’s successor was named by the Kano State government.
The protesters set tyres on fire and mounted road blocks, shouting, “Ba muso, ba muso,” meaning, “We don’t want, we don’t want’’ in apparent reference to the choice of Sanusi by the state government, witnesses said.
It was also reported that the protesters threw stones at passing vehicles. But the situation has been promptly arrested Policemen and other security agents.
Earlier, Kano State government had announced Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano, following the death of the previous incumbent, Alhaji Ado Bayero on Friday, after a 51-year reign.
Secretary to Kano State Government, Rabiu Suleiman Bichi had made the announcement at the state’s Government House. He had said the government chose Sanusi’s name out of three names forwarded by Kano kingmakers.
“The king makers comprising the Madaki, Sarkin Bai, Makaman and Sarkin Dawaki Maituta had sat down and forwarded three names to the government to choose the one that will succeed the Late Emir Ado Abdullahi Bayero,” Bichi had announced.
“Out of these three names the government has approved Sanusi Lamidu Sanusi, the Dan Majen Kano and former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as the new emir of Kano.”
Sanusi was suspended in February on government charges of financial recklessness and misconduct, soon after he alleged that the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) misappropriated $20 billion in public funds.
One of the emir’s sons, Aminu Ado Bayero, alongside Sanusi, the grandson of the late emir’s brother, who reigned briefly in the 1960s, had been tipped to take over from the late traditional ruler.
By becoming the emir of Kano, Sanusi would wield the power of the second most-influential of Nigeria’s trifecta of Muslim leaders alongside the Sultan of Sokoto at the top spot and the Shehu of Borno in number three.
