Why Buhari Could Not Save Dethroned Emir Sanusi – Junaid Muhamed

Second Republic lawmaker and frontline northern elder, Junaid Muhammed has reacted to reports that President Muhammadu Buhari was behind the removal of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as emir of Kano.

Sanusi, a relentless critic of northern leadership, was dethrone as emir of Kano on March 9. after a meeting of the state Executive Council by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

There have been suggestions that the federal government was responsible for Sanusi’s removal, with Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former governor of the state, accusing Buhari of being responsible.

But Muhammed who spoke with THE WHISTLER in a telephone interview, acknowledged that there were overtures from the presidency but they reconciliatory, adding however that they were rebuffed by Governor Ganduje.

“Buhari is not the kind of person who intervenes in matters like these. And even the President knows how Kano people behave. He knows you cannot dictate to Kano people; Kano people are very proud and any attempt to dictate to them will backfire.

“But I know that some northern leaders went to the president for him to intervene. They asked for his intervention, but the governor refused to meet them. You can confirm this. So leave Buhari out of it.

“Sanusi was dethrone because of his insubordination. He had no respect for the governor of the state or anyone except himself. He behaved arrogantly to everyone and that was why his removal was very easy for the governor because all those who could have prevented his removal had been alienated. I can tell you confidently that some people in the state government had even started asking Governor Ganduje why he didn’t want to remove him as emir.”

Muhammed claimed Sanusi was not the popular choice for the Kano throne when he was named the emir, adding that the new emir Aminu Ado Bayero was the choice of the kingmakers.

He accused the Kwankwaso administration of installing Sanusi emir of Kano because he wanted to use his connection and wealth to win the presidential election of 2015 in the hope he would get the All Progressive Congress ticket.

“Sanusi was never the choice of kano as emir. The person chosen is the man now on the throne. But those who wanted to use him and his wealth to boost their political ambition to be president forced him on the kingmakers. But unfortunately for them, Sanusi could not help him get his party’s presidential ticket talk less the presidency.

 “Those who say he was dethroned because of his attacks on northern leaders do not know Kano people. The throne of the emir of Kano is highly revered and history had recorded there was a civil war in Kano over the throne in 1895. Sanusi has no one to blame for his removal but himself. His attitude, arrogance and lack of respect for anyone brought him down.

“If they think he’s so popular with the people, they should tell him to come and contest election. Kano people are not the kind of people anyone can dictate to. You cannot ask the people of Kano to do what they don’t want; it’s not possible,” he said.

But while admitting that Sanusi had been a critic of northern leaders, he said he had not said anything new against northern leaders.

“Whatever Sanusi had said, he was not the first to have said it. Northern leaders have been criticized for long for the problems of the country. But if truth be told, northern elites have been part of the problems of this country. But so are the elites from the South. The challenges facing Nigeria is one that does not require the blame game, but the effort of all.”

Sanusi, who was banished to Awe in Nasarawa State, haa now returned to his family in Lagos.