The coronation of the new Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, was at last held in Kano on Saturday. Our Correspondent BASHIR MOhAMMED analyses the milestones leading to the epochal event
The ruling Fulani dynasty in Kano has been widely touted and acclaimed as one of the most revered and recognised fountains of traditional authority in northern Nigeria. Its influence had transcended all known frontiers of culture and tradition. With the demise of the reverred Emir i Ado Abdullahi Bayero, the family was endowed with another monarch whose pedigree, charisma, humility and sense of humour injected succour into the minds of the people that the ruling house is poised to retain its elegance and popularity.
With the formal presentation of staff of office to Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 14th Emir of Kano in the Fulani dynasty by Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, people were convinced that Bayero’s successor was firmly entrenched in the saddle of authority.
At the time the news about the passing away of Bayero broke out on Friday, June 6, 2014, the people of Kano were plunged into anxiety, knowing that they had lost a rare gem and a symbol of eminence and authority. They feared that his demise could make the emirate lose its eminence.
Bayero was widely acclaimed to have stoutly defended the interests of his people no matter the odds and abhorred any form of injustice meted out to them by anyone. As one whose childhood upbringing was spectacularly built on a solid foundation as fully testified by his friends and close confidants, Bayero had remarkably imbibed the traits of his father, the popular Sarki Alhaji as he was fondly referred to, and ruled for five eventful decades without hurting his subjects.
The issue of shopping for his successor hours after his burial stirred the hornet’s nest, given the retinue of heirs to the throne which every son of the royalty was aspiring to. With the power of appointing an emir vested in the governor after meticulous selection by the kingmakers, the controversy generated by the succession battle was finally led to rest when Governor Kwankwaso appointed Malam Lamido Sanusi Lamido, a governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as the new Emir of Kano. It could be recalled that the late Ado Bayero had in 2012 installed Sanusi, then serving as CBN governor, as Danmajen Kano, one of the well-regarded titles reserved only for Kano princes.
His appointment, according to the governor, was based on his ardent belief that Sanusi was the right person to succeed Bayero, knowing that he possesses the much needed qualities of a leader which would benefit the people.
Despite the reasons given by the governor, however, a little uprising broke out by those who felt the throne should have gone to one of the sons of the decesead emir. Emir Sanusi, out of his usual master stroke, changed his name from to Muhammadu Sanusi ll after his grandfather, the late Emir Sir Muhammadu Sanusi, who ruled from 1953 to1963.
Kwankwaso took his time to carefully plan for the coronation, taking into cognizance that it was the event of the century which had come at a time he was opportuned to be in the saddle of power. Always a media-savvy person, the new emir addressed a selected group of reporters seventy-two hours to the great event, in order to give a comprehensive account of his ascension to the exalted throne and how he is willing to render his utmost contributions to the people. In the interview, he revealed that he has achieved his ambition in life since he had been turbaned as the emir and that he is only waiting to be confined to his grave from the palace. He said he was chosen by God not because he was better than anybody, adding that humility and absolute sacrifice is what is needed in a leader to prove his mettle. According to him, his major cardinal thrust is to build on the good legacies left by his predecessors, stressing that he would want be remembered as one who served his people with the fear of Allah and the ability to live above board.
“I am averse to any responsibility I know I cannot effectively handle,” he said. “It is good for a leader to be humble and always ready to make supreme sacrifice. As far as I am concerned, I am fully guided by the teachings of Islam to do what is in the best interest of my followers.”
Last Saturday, Sanusi kept a date with history when, in the presence of eminent personalities from all walks of life, was presented with a staff of office by Governor Kwankwaso at a colourful ceremony filled with pomp and pageantry. Kano had never witnessed such a calibre of people since Bayero was presented with staff of office by the Premier of the Northern Region, the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, in 1963.
The new emir went through the traditional rites of the oath-taking before the formal coronation. The Chief Imam of Kano, Prof. Sani Zaharadeen, presented Sanusi with a copy of the holy Qur’an and administered the oath on him. The emir was adorned with the royal regalia, followed by paying of homage by the kingmakers of the Emirate Council and other royal personalities one after the other.
Presenting the staff of office at the Coronation Hall, which was specially constructed for the historic event at the Government House, Governor Kwankwaso said: “Emir Muhammad Sanusi’s appointment was guided by collective and careful judgment of his ability, credibility and capability to provide the required purposeful leadership to enhance the Emirate Council and the general wellbeing of our people”. He added that the appointment was justified, considering the widespread acceptance from the Kano community, adding that the move has also drawn great compliment from other spirited personalities from all walks of life.
Describing the new emir as having sterling qualities, the governor added that he “is a highly knowledgeable person, a seasoned technocrat of International repute and an administrator per excellence. Above all, he is heir apparent of the throne who has distinguished himself as an outstanding religious scholar that is quite conversant with the dynamics of our time”.
While congratulating the monarch on his appointment, Kwankwaso urged the traditional institution in Kano to complement government’s efforts in hastening the pace of development of the state by constant sensitization and enlightenment of the citizens on governments’ policies and programmes.
The governor also solicited the cooperation of the traditional institution, to continue supporting government in the maintenance of public order and security, which include intelligence sharing and monitoring.
In his acceptance speech after the coronation, the emir thanked all those that were involved in choosing him as emir. He pointed out that it was Allah that gives power to whoever he wishes and takes away power from whoever he so wishes. He said: “I will not stop without praying for the repose soul of our late Emir Ado Bayero, who was humble, industrious, humane and respectful. May Allah grant him Jannatul Firdaus and his ancestors alike.
“It is instructive to know that out of the many years of Kano Emirate rule, our late emir took about one over four of the years, he spent about 51 years on the throne.”
Sanusi assured that he would do his best to strengthen the peaceful co-existence between all adherents of different faiths and tribes in the country.
He prayed to God to give Nigeria the best leaders in the forthcoming general elections, urging politicians to ensure that the elections are peaceful and credible.
The personalities who witnessed the epoch-making event included former Heads of State, Emirs, Obas, Chiefs members of the diplomatic corp and politicians.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former heads of state, General Yakubu Gowon and Muhammadu Buhari, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, were present. State governors at the colourful ceremony included Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers; Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari of Zamfara, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Kashim Shettima of Borno, Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger, and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara.
Other dignitaries included business mogul Aliko Dangote and his maternal uncle and patriarch of the Dantata family, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abdurrahman Dambazau (rtd.); US Ambassador in Nigeria, British High Commissioner, Canadian High Commissioner, and the Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, etc.
Federal Government officials were, however, conspicuously absent and there was no word on any kind of representation. Nevertheless, the coronation was one of the greatest and most memorable events of the century in the ancient city, considering the fact only a handful of people were opportune to witness that of Alhaji Ado Bayero.
A former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, capped it all when he described the Kano emirship as the most respected and reverred in human history, saying the monarchy is extraordinarily adored for its unique treasure. According to the diplomat, Sanusi was God’s choice which no mortal would ever contest and that with his savvy and pedigree as a true blue blood he had undoubtedly inherited the spectacular attributes of his grandfather Muhammadu Sanusi Bayero. Sule contended that the new emir would remarkably live up to his billing since he was abundantly endowed with the knowledge of Islam and would never be swayed by the trappings of power to go astray.
With the great coronation, the stage is now set for the business of governance without hiccups in the face of the high expectation placed by the people of Kano on the shoulders of the emir.
