In a dramatic turn of events reminiscent of "Game of Thrones," the reinstatement of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano on Thursday has plunged the state into a frenzy.

The roots of this conflict trace back to 2014 when Sanusi succeeded the late Emir Ado Bayero, narrowly defeating Aminu Ado Bayero. However, in 2020, Sanusi was deposed by former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who appointed Aminu Ado Bayero in his place. Fast forward to 2024, under the new leadership of Governor Abba Yusuf from the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP), Sanusi has been reinstated.

This political maneuvering unfolded swiftly. The Kano State House of Assembly passed the Kano Emirates Council Law (Repeal Bill) 2024, dissolving the five first-class Emirates created by Ganduje—Bichi, Rano, Gaya, Karaye, and the Kano Emirate itself. This move restored the Single Emirate System, a decision Governor Yusuf claimed was in line with his campaign promises to revive Kano's cultural heritage and promote peace and prosperity.

In a statement, Governor Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, emphasized that the governor’s actions were for the state's best interest. "We believe this step will bring peace and prosperity," Bature said, urging residents to resume their normal activities.

Adding to the tension, Governor Yusuf issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Aminu Ado Bayero and the four other former first-class chiefs to vacate their palaces and hand over all Emirate properties to the deputy governor's office.

This ongoing power struggle has created a tense atmosphere in Kano, with the state teetering on the edge of further conflict. The situation remains fluid as both royal families continue to vie for the coveted Emirate throne.

Controversial court order

However, a few hours to Sanusi’s reinstatement, a new twist was introduced to the ensuing drama as a Federal High Court in Kano granted an ex-parte order stopping Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from reinstating Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II pending the determination of a substantive suit filed against the reinstatement.

The order also halted the abolishment of four emirates: Bichi, Gaya, Karaye, and Rano.

The court, however, directed all parties involved to maintain status quo ante pending the determination of the suit filed by Sarkin Dawaki Babba and Aminu Babba-Dan’Agundi on Thursday.

Security agencies vow to obey controversial court order

Following the controversial court order, the joint security agencies, under the leadership of the Kano Police Commissioner, Muhammad Usaini Gumel, said they would obey the court order issued by a Federal High Court stopping the state government from reinstating Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.

The Police Commissioner, Muhammad Usaini Gumel, alongside other top security officers of the military, the DSS and others, warned that they would not allow anybody to break peace and unity of the State using what is happening in the Emirate Council.

“Our joint security resolved to keep peace in Kano, and the development surrounding the Emirates Council; the Police Command respects the court order, alongside other security agencies and we have resolved to ensure that we keep peace in the state,” he said.

He added that they would not be compelled by anybody to carry out any assignment.

“As far as the situation of the Emirate is concerned, we recognize the Emir who was there as stated by the Court, and we are only respecting Court orders which says status quo should be maintained and that is where we stay and stand,” he added.

The Police Commissioner further stated that, “the position of law is very clear that whoever tries to cause problems will be arrested without hesitation.

“Miscreants are advised to stay away from causing havoc in the State, as the safety of the people remain sacrosanct.”

Bayero returns to Kano

Amid the tense atmosphere in the State, Bayero was said to have been brought back to Kano and was at the Nasarawa Emir’s Rest House adjacent to the Ministry of Works.

It was gathered that he returned to the town in the early hours of Saturday.

The aircraft which conveyed the deposed Emir touched down at the Aminu Kano International Airport at about 4:30 am.

Yusuf orders Bayero’s arrest

However, as tension enveloped Kano over alleged forceful return of deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, Governor Yusuf, on Saturday ordered his immediate arrest.

The Governor, his Deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam and other top government functionaries also took over the Emir’s Palace in an effort to prevent the deposed Emir’s forceful return.

Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature, in a statement said that in the governor’s position as the State Chief Security Officer, he has ordered the arrest of the deposed Emir for violating the laws and his directives.

Ganduje using Ribadu to sustain deposed Kano Emir – Dep. Gov

Amid the confusion, the Kano State Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo, accused the immediate past governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, of trying to impose the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero on the state.

Gwarzo made the allegation on Saturday while speaking to journalists at the Emir’s palace.

He said Ganduje was using the office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to achieve his objective.

He said: “It is unfortunate that the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, is using the National Security Adviser to create tension in the state by smuggling into the state, the former emir, Aminu Ado Bayero.

“The appointment and dethronement of Emir or any traditional title holder is solely the prerogative of the state government.

“I am here together with the governor and other top government functionaries to ensure that the new emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II starts exercising his power and authority immediately after he was given his appointment letter yesterday”.

Ribadu denies claim

However, in a swift reaction, the National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Saturday, denied claims of providing air transport for the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero to return to the state.

Speaking through the spokesman of NSA office, Mallam Zakari Mijinyawa, Ribadu maintained that he did not provide the aircraft that returned the sacked Emir to Kano.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, he said: “I read the comments on social media, it is untrue.

“The NSA did not provide air transport to anyone to Kano.

“Political actors should desist from misinforming the public as law enforcement officials in the state strive to maintain peace and order.”

Bayero reacts

Deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, in his speech on Saturday, said justice will prevail over the issue surrounding the emirates in the state.

Bayero urged relevant authorities to ensure justice because nobody is above the law, urging residents to maintain law and order

He spoke on Saturday at the mini-palace where he has since returned to after his dethronement.

According to Ado-Bayero: “I call on the people to remain law-abiding while awaiting the outcome of the legal process in this tussle.

“We call on the authorities to do justice in this matter. Kano is a very influential state in Nigeria. Whatever affects Kano affects Nigeria. May peace reign in Kano. We pray for Allah to bless Kano with responsible and just leaders.

I didn’t give any directive – Kwankwaso

A former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, insisted that he played no part in the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano.

Kwankwaso spoke with BBC Hausa, Kwankwaso, explaining that he never influenced the decision of the governor to reinstate Emir Sanusi.

“When I go there, I will hear what happened and I am sure they will tell me whatever happened, and whatever they tell me, we just pray for them. I heard the Assembly members have repealed the law.

“What we were telling them was they should go and investigate whether what happened was done out of goodwill or not. What happened appears to be a vendetta or cheating. It’s just a matter of did Ganduje do right or wrong. It’s not about going against him.

“I will go to Kano very soon and I will speak with some of the assembly members, especially the speaker, and the Governor on what is happening.”

Allah is the best of planners – El Rufai

However, immediate-past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, reacted to the reinstatement of his bosom friend, Muhammadu Sanusi II, as Emir of Kano by the Kano State government.

El-Rufai took to his Facebook page on Friday night, posting a cryptic message, evidently referring to the development in Kano Emirate.

In a post tagged ‘Friday Reminder’, with a quote from the Holy Qur’an, El-Rufai wrote: “But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.” – Holy Quran – Surah Al-Anfal (8:30).”

Don’t plunge Kano into chaos – Council of Ullamas

On its part, the Council of Ulamas in Kano has cautioned President Ahmad Bola Tinubu against using federal power to cause serious crises that could cripple Kano through his government’s alleged interference in the ongoing Emirate Council impasse.

The Council of Ulamas said it was worried that recent events in the Emirate, if not carefully handled, could escalate and degenerate into chaos.

In a statement signed by 18 members of the Ulama, the clergies expressed their concerns regarding the ongoing dispute over the emirship.

Ulama emphasised that it was important for Tinubu to take all necessary measures to uphold peace in the state.

“The State Governor also has a responsibility as the Chief Executive of the state. As the act in question has already been completed, there is no need for violent enforcement of any order or violent resistance to it. We vehemently oppose any measures that will escalate conflict in the state.

“Mr. President, as the leader of the nation, should not allow the contest for a royal stool to degenerate into violence. We are calling on Mr. President to allow the people of Kano State to resolve these issues amicably without the use of force and without loss of lives.

“Kano State is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria; therefore, we, the undersigned, call on both contending parties to use civil means in resolving their differences to allow peace to reign in the state.

“As major stakeholders in the state, we want to assure Mr. President that we shall reach out to contenders to resolve the matter peacefully,” they stated.

FG will be held responsible for violence in Kano – Atiku

Reacting to the development, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said that the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government would be held responsible if violence breaks out in the state over the emirate crisis.

Atiku said Tinubu’s government was inviting anarchy to Kano State by providing security for the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero.

In a statement via his X handle, Atiku cautioned the federal government against destabilising the State.

“The action of the Federal Government in deploying soldiers in Kano in the tussle over the throne of the ancient city is an upset to the peace and security of the state, and also in breach of the 1999 Constitution as Amended.

“The foregoing circumstances happened within the confines of the law and in compliance with the powers conferred on the governor as provided by Section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended; and also in consultation with the kingmakers of Kano, reappointed Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (also known as Muhammadu Sanusi II) as the 16th Emir of Kano State and accordingly handed him a letter of appointment.

“It is surprising that in the early hours of today, exactly at about 5:30 am the former Emir of Kano, His Majesty Aminu Ado Bayero, backed by Federal might made their way into the Nasarawa Palace of the Kano Emirate while the reappointed Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II was at the Gidan Dabo, which is the main residence of the Emir of Kano.

“In this wise, the former Emir could not have made his way into the Nasarawa Palace without the support of the Federal Government having done so with the support of the army and other security personnel in his company. The deployment of soldiers in extra constitutional matters such as this undermines the integrity of the Nigerian military.

“We need to remind the Tinubu administration that Kano State is known for peace and harmony spanning thousands of years and any attempt to destabilize the peace of the Land of Commerce shall be resisted. Recall that Muhammadu Sanusi II was dethroned on 9th March, 2020: dethroned, Kano forged on in peace without any fracas.

“We wish to state unequivocally that if for any reason, law and order breaks down in Kano State, particularly Kano Municipal, the Federal Government should be held responsible as the act of providing security cover to the former Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero to come back to Kano is an invitation to anarchy.”

Halt reign of madness unfolding in Kano – Inibehe Effiong

Meanwhile, a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong has cautioned the federal government against interfering in the Kano Emirship struggle.

Effiong specifically said that the central government has no authority to determine Emirship dispute, to appoint or enthrone anyone as Emir.

In a post on his X handle on Saturday, the legal expert said that President Bola Tinubu should urgently halt the reign of madness unfolding in Kano.

His statement comes after a team of joint security agencies, under the leadership of the Kano Police Commissioner, Muhammad Usaini Gumel, said they would obey the court order stopping the Kano State government from reinstating Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.

Gumel, alongside other top security officers of the military, the DSS and others, had warned they would not allow anybody to break peace and unity of the State using what is happening in the Emirate Council.

Speaking to Naijacrawl, Yerima Shettima, spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum, described the situation as a sad development.

Shettima, who called for calmness, said he maintained his association’s earlier position that parties involved in the tussle must respect the law, since there’s a court injunction.

He said: “Well the situation is a sad development. For us, we felt strongly that in a situation like this we expect that there must be calm first.

“And at the same time, we maintain our earlier position as earlier stated by our platform that they must respect the law, since there’s a court injunction.

“We expect that everyone should remain calm, let’s see what happens on the 3rd of June in the court; let’s wait for the ruling from the court.

“Then we expect that everybody, whichever way it goes, we expect them to comply. Because what’s paramount to us is to ensure that that peace they have enjoyed over time in Kano should be sustained.

“Any other thing that will bring about breaking of law or any chaos is totally condemnable. And we don’t expect anything more than that at the moment now.”