• Late Emir’s Will May Decide Winner
EXPECTATIONS are high within the Kano Emirate Council as the four kingmakers work round the clock to produce a successor to the late Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero, who passed on Friday. The kingmakers are Sarki Abdullahi Mukhtar Madakin Kano, Alhaji Mukhtar Adnan Sarkin Bai Kano, Alhaji Tijjani Hashim Galadiman Kano and Alhaji Aminu Baba Dan’Agundi Sarkin Dawaki Mai Tuta.
The process of selecting a new emir of the ancient city is through exhaustive consultations among the kingmakers with a perusal of the royal records, as well as records of contenders for the throne, after which a voting process will ensue. They will then submit the name of the preferred candidate to the governor, and in this case, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, for final announcement and appointment.
As at Saturday, according to a source close to the kingmakers, three names of frontline contenders had been shortlisted and ready for onward transmission to the governor. The source added that the selection of a new Emir might not take unnecessary time.
The list, according to the source include the eldest son of the late Emir, Sanusi Ado Bayero, who is the Ciroma of Kano, former CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (Dan Maje Kano), and Aminu Ado Bayero, another son of the late Emir.
Earlier, a much larger list included the Turakin Kano, Nasir Ado Bayero; Sarkin Dawaki Tsakarigida, Aminu Ado Bayero; Wambai Kano, Alh. Abbass Sanusi; Galadima Kano, Tijjani Hashim; and a member of the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Abdullahi Ado Bayero.
The source disclosed that the late Emir might have left behind a will expressing his choice of who to succeed him. Even though the kingmakers are keeping that as top secret, that piece of information may have dampened some interests that have already gone to town to flaunt the credentials of a particular candidate.
If politics and visibility were to play any role in who emerges as the new Emir, the former CBN governor may have an advantage over the other two. He appears to be very close to the state governor, and the two have shared similar political views on national issues.
A close friend of the Emirate Council revealed that when the former CBN boss was appointed as the Dan Maje of Kano, he knew he was inching towards becoming the Emir of Kano.
On what quality and personality is expected of a deserving emir Kano, Dr. Tijani Naniya of History Department, Bayero Univeristy, Kano revealed that the personality of Emir of Kano must be one “who is well accepted for a good conduct, that wishes to imbibe qualities of tolerance, patience and good statesmanship. The kind of Emir that Kano would have must also be in tune with the constitutional government since you know the traditional rulers of today only play advisory role.”
Meanwhile, former President Obasanjo has advised the Kano Emirate Council and the Kingmakers to ensure they are guided by principles of justice and equal opportunity while selecting the next emir of Kano.
Chief Obasanjo, who joined hundreds of sympathizers to pay their condolences to the people of Kano, wants the Kingmakers to eschew sentiment and avoid undue pressures that could becloud their judgment.
Source: Guardian
