Relative peace returned to Kano on Sunday evening after initial protest by supporters of Sanusi Ado Bayero who failed to get the nod of the city’s kingmakers and the state government to emerge as new emir.
Bayero’s supporters had set off bonfires in various locations after Secretary to State Government, Rabiu Bichi, announced that former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had been selected.
Nigeria’s PREMIUM TIMES quoted resident of Tarauni, not far from the Government House, Modibbo Mohammed, who spoke over the telephone as saying that everywhere was calm.
“As we speak, I am sitting right in front of my house and everything is normal, it wasn’t like this earlier in the evening,” he said.
Spokesperson of the Nigerian Police in Kano, Magaji Majiya, said the force dispatched officers to scenes of the protests and that they had since restored order.
“At about 4 p.m. shortly after the announcement of the new emir, we received news of protests in some areas in Kano metropolis,” Mr. Majiya said.
“Our men were dispatched to the areas and they have restored peace. We urge all citizens to be law abiding and maintain the peace.”
The former monarch, Alhaji Ado Bayero, died on Friday and was buried the same day in accordance with Islamic rites with the Kano Emirate flag flown at half-mast.
Angered by the emergence of Sanusi, as the 14th Emir of Kano, angry youths immediately took to the streets to protest.
The angry youths converged on the Nasarawa area of Kano metropolis and staged procession to the Government House.
But, they were later dispersed by military personnel. Prior to the announcement, the State Government had deployed security operatives in strategic areas to forestall breakdown of law and order.
The SSG said Sanusi emerged as the unanimous choice of the kingmakers.
The ex-CBN Boss, Sanusi, who holds the traditional title of Majen Kano, defeated the main contender and first son of the late Emir, Sunusi Ado Bayero.
His selection was confirmed by a statement from the Kano State Government which reads in part: “Under state customary, 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.
“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 born in Kano Northern Nigeria, on July 31, 1961. He obtained degrees in Economics and Islamic Law from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the International University of Africa, Khartoum.
After teaching economics for two years at the Ahmadu Bello University, he started a banking career in 1985 with Icon Limited (Merchant Bankers) and later worked with the United Bank for Africa Plc and First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
His banking career spanned various fields including issuing House activity, Financial Advisory Services and Credit marketing.
However, it was in the field of Risk Management that he earned his professional reputation, having distinguished himself as the Chief Risk Officer in the two largest banks in the Country, UBA Plc and FBN Plc.
He rose to the position of Group Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of First Bank Plc, the largest bank in the country in January, 2009 and was appointed the 10th Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in June, 2009.
He was however suspended from office by President Goodluck Jonathan on February 20, 2014 after he was accused of “financial recklessness”.
An appeal against the suspension is still in court.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday withdrew a statement congratulating Bayero as the new emir of Kano.
A counter statement from the party reads:
“Our attention has been drawn to a unauthorised statement issued on behalf of the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP by his Special Assistant, Mr. Richard Ihediwa, congratulating the eldest son of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero as the new Emir of Kano.
“Mr. Ihediwa relied on a false news flash on the AIT and issued a statement in that direction without approval from the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh.
“This is completely embarrassing to the National Publicity Secretary and the entire leadership of the PDP.
“We hereby dissociate with the statement earlier issued and regret the embarrassment this may have caused the entire nation, the Kano Emirate and the good people of Kano state.
