The emirate system of government in Northern Nigeria was a stabilised one prior to the coming of the colonialists. The Fulani Islamic leader, Usman Dan fodio, introduced a caliphate in Sokoto which serves as the headquarters of the northern Islamic empire. Dan fodio conquered the existing Hausa emirate in the 19th century which led to the installation of the Fulani emirs in areas like Sokoto, Kano, Zaria, Gwandu, Katsina, Ilorin, etc. He brought core Islam and Islamic education to Northern Nigeria. Emirs or amirs are therefore the head of each emirate. They are used interchangeably and it means a prince, governor, commander or leader of the Muslim faithful. As someone that grew up in an emirate jurisdiction, we take our emirs in very high esteem and I know how important and significant they are because of the significant role they play in their respective jurisdiction. They are the embodiment of our culture, tradition, heritage, and are peace makers. They also perform executive functions by constituting a body of advisers and ministers.
However, after Nigeria’s independence and democratic government was put in place, the emirs were later subdued by the government and it is the governor that appoints an emir in a state. The state government is expected to follow due process of appointing an emir traditionally; the tradition demands voting by king makers as a condition precedent for the approval of the governor. Consequently, emirs lost their status which was authoritarian and monarchical. As custodians of the cultural heritage of their localities, they are naturally the royal fathers. This means they have to be neutral and non partisan. However, it is also imperative for them to be loyal to the government of the day despite being the father of all, including the government. They are expected to be loyal to the government or face the consequences of being dethroned.
It is on record that late head of state, Gen Sani Abacha, once dethroned his highness, Ibrahim Dasuki in 1996. Also, the Abubakar Rimi government of Kano once created additional emirates in 1981 to whittle down the power of the then Emir of Kano, Alh Ado Bayero. Is history repeating itself today? On May 8, 2019, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state created four additional emirates which analysts said were aimed at whittling down the power of Emir Sanusi due to political differences and his criticism government. Sanusi’s outspokenness flows from his pedigree, intellectualism, high exposure, vast experience, and more importantly, his advocacy for good governance, truth, humanity and his fearlessness. The Sanusi Lamido Sanusi I know and have been following his activities right from his time as the Central Bank governor will not change even as an emir. As CBN governor, Sanusi blew the whistle on the missing $25 billion in NNPC under then Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke. His concern was to avert economic crisis. He said: “Over $20 billion is unremitted to the federation account, and if nothing is done by 2015, Nigeria will know what economic crisis is”. Although he was removed as CBN governor by then President Goodluck Jonathan, his prediction came to pass as the nation experienced serious economic recession. As fate will have it, he was crowned as the 14th Emir of Kano in 2014.
Meanwhile, my portraying Sanusi as a digital emir and status quo changer might not be farfetched, due to the fact that he is a scholar par excellence, a professional, successful and an award winning banker, an advocate of good governance, advocate of girl child education. He also preaches to his people that the almajiri system of education practiced in the North is not really Islamic. He has two degrees (economics and sharia law) and masters in economics. He taught briefly at Ahmadu Bello University before starting his banking career at UBA and later First Bank where he became the first northerner to be appointed group managing director/CEO. He was appointed CBN governor in 2009 when the banking industry was enmeshed in corruption. He took a radical approach in anti-corruption aimed at saving 24 banks from collapse.
The cashless banking we enjoy today is one of his major achievements which earned him several awards including two awards from the banker magazine: central bank governor of the year (worldwide) and central bank governor of the year for Africa. Time magazine listed him as 100 most influential people in 2011. These are just few of his numerous awards for outstanding performance as CBN governor. My calling Sanusi a digital emir is justifiable because he is a contemporary emir in 21st century that requires digital and knowledgeable leaders. We hope to have more Sanusis as leaders not just as custodians of our culture but in all spheres of endeavour for effective development. He is endowed with not only western education, but also Islamic knowledge that makes him more prepared to take the mantle of the amir of Kano. This makes him deviate from the status quo of appointing an imam to lead in Jumaat and eid prayers. That is why the Kanawa call him “sarkin mu limanmi mu” meaning, “our king, our imam”; an amir is supposed to be a spiritual head in addition to administrative functions. This was the practice during the time of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his caliph’s that succeeded him.
Moreover, I doubt if this fearless man that stands for justice and what true humanity stands for will ever join the queue of what our traditional institutions entails. The major problem with us as a people is trying to maintain status quo that is retrogressive and selfish in nature even at the detriment of the poor masses. The Sanusi I know will not mind losing his seat as an emir in insisting on what is right. This is obvious from the declaration by his daughter, Shahida Lamido Sanusi, sometimes ago. She said: “I know he has always wanted to be the emir of Kano, but to him if it comes between what is right, what his conscience tells him and choosing the throne, he would give up the throne”. Emir Sanusi may not be perfect because perfection is due to Allah, but he has demonstrated what true humanity stands for and how a sincere leader should behave. He is therefore a role model to many of us. I end this piece with thse quotations: “Legacy is not leaving something for people, it is leaving something in people”-Peter Strople; “What you do is your history. What you set in motion is your legacy. You can live forever”- Leonard Sweet.
Idris, author, public affairs analyst, advocate of good governance and human rights, writes from Ilorin via 08032796948, [email protected]
