Former Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II, has been reinstated as the Emir of Kano following the passage of a new law by the Kano State House of Assembly.
The law abolishes the four emirates created in 2019 under former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s administration.
The reinstatement of Sanusi II comes after the State Assembly passed a bill titled ‘The Kano State Emirates Councils (Repeal) Bill, 2024,’ which dissolves the additional emirates of Rano, Karaye, Gaya, and Bichi. This bill was passed after its third reading and awaits the governor’s assent.
Sanusi’s reinstatement is seen as automatic with the passage of the bill, and sources suggest he will return to Kano on Friday. While there has been no official statement on his reinstatement, the Senior Special Assistant on Digital Media to the state governor, Tuwita, confirmed the bill’s passage on X.
The 2019 law that created the new emirates was controversial, leading to a rift between then-Governor Ganduje and Sanusi, culminating in Sanusi’s deposition. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s recent election victory renewed calls for Sanusi’s reinstatement, with Yusuf promising to restore the old Kano Emirate system.
Sanusi’s return marks a significant political shift in Kano, emphasizing the governor’s commitment to his campaign promises and the traditional structure of the Kano Emirate.
