FLASHBACK: How Emir Muhammadu Sanusi’s Grandfather Was Dethroned In 1963

History repeated itself on Monday following the dethronement of the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, by the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje-led government of Kano State.

Sanusi’s grandfather, Sir Muhammadu Sanusi I, was similarly dethroned as the Emir of Kano in 1963.

The late Sanusi senior was dethroned due to an alleged power tussle between him and his distant cousin Sir Ahmadu Bello, who was the Sardauna of Sokoto.

Sir Ahmadu Bello was said to have set up a probe panel which recommended Sanusi senior’s dethronement to Sir Kashim Ibrahim, the then governor of Northern Region.

His grandson, Sanusi II, who was governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2009 to 2014, was similarly dethroned due to alleged political differences between him and Governor Ganduje.

ThisDay had quoted the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly as accusing Sanusi junior of “getting involved in political issues, the misappropriation of the Emirate Council’s funds and making statements against President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Sanusi had also been accused in some quarters of speaking against northern leaders for their conservative Islamic values.

Meanwhile, after his dethronement 57 years ago, the late Sanusi I was said to have been asked where he would want to go into exile and that he opted for Azare, a city in Bauchi State.