Ganduje Adamant On Creating New Emirates, Sends Fresh Bill To Kano Assembly

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has made a fresh attempt to create four new emirates in Kano after a previous effort was thwarted by a High Court in the state.

Ganduje on Monday sent a bill to the Kano State House of Assembly seeking the creation of the Bichi, Rano, Karaye and Gaya traditional emirates in the state.

The move came after a high court sitting in Kano nullified the initial creation of the emirates and sacked the emirs appointed for those emirates by the governor.

Justice Justice Na’Abbu, who delivered the ruling, declared that the Kano Assembly violated the provision of Section 101 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which allows the assembly to make laws, in passing the bill for the creation of the emirates.

The move was believed to be aimed at whittling down the influence of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, who is said not to be in good terms with the governor.

Governor Ganduje’s fresh attempt to create the new emirates is reportedly coming amid opposition by many Kano residents.

The Kano State commissioner of information, Muhammad Garba, announced in a statement on Monday that the state government had taken another shot at restoring  the annulled emirates.

Garba said, “the Kano State Executive Council has approved Emirate Council Bill 2019 which provides for the establishment of additional Emirates in the state.

“To this end, the Council has, with this development, endorsed the establishment of four new Emirates namely Rano, Gaya, Bichi and Karaye and forward same to the state Assembly for necessary action.

He said, “some of these Emirate have even pre-dated Kano in ancient times, while the effort to revive them during the Second Republic was short-lived.

He said, “while the Council seriously discussed the decade long clamour for the establishment of additional Emirates in the state with a view to bringing more development to the people of the new Emirates, the exercise was also informed by the need to bring traditional institution closer to the people in addition to facilitating speedy socio-economic development and security in the state.”

Garba added that, “The introduction of the Free and Compulsory Education at Basic and Secondary level requires the active participation of the community especially the traditional institutions for its successful implementation.

“The Emirate Council Bill 2019 was amended in the public interest following a Kano High Court action that nullified the law on the ground that the petition was presented to the Assembly by a private person not a member of the House.

“The Council, therefore, called on the state Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Bill in the interest of the public.”