Newly-appointed Emir of Kano, Mallam Lamido Sanusi Lamido, is still in the Government House several hours after he received his letter of appointment from Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso, yesterday.
By tradition, Sanusi is to move to the palace occupied by his predecessor, the late Alhaji Ado Bayero, who died last Friday.
Nigerian Pilot learnt that Mallam Sanusi would only move to the palace after certain “traditional and spiritual rites” were performed.
A source close to the palace said under no circumstances would a new emir enter the palace without waiting for certain “traditional and spiritual rites” to be carried out.
He said it was against this background that the palace had not be opened to the new emir, stressing that the occupation of the premises by security operatives had nothing to do with the protests that trailed the announcement of his selection by Governor Kwankwaso on Sunday.
A prominent Kano leader, Mallam Umar Dan Madaki, explained that such processes include creating a new entry point through which the new emir would enter the palace, asserting that even the late Ado Bayero complied with the rule.
He said it was after the new emir entered the palace through the new gate that the usual entrance would be opened for official use, adding that Dan Kaden Kano, Dr. Bashir Muhammad, had hinted that the new gate had been created.
He said that a convoy of vehicles will today leave the palace to the residence of the new emir to pick him and bring him to the palace before he would perform the traditional duties of an emir.
Nigerian Pilot further learnt that the presence of large number of policemen around the palace was to protect it against being vandalised by hoodlums.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aderenle Shinaba, who explained the police action, said anybody was free to insinuate anything on the matter.
In a chat with Nigerian Pilot, the commissioner further said that the police were in the palace and other places to ensure law and order.
“The presence of my men is not only at the palace, but everywhere to forestall any breach of peace in line with our duties. You can see we are now on top of the situation and anybody can say what he wants in exercise of his freedom of expression,” he stated.
While the protest on Sunday was against the appointment of Sanusi, the one of yesterday was organised by his supporters.
Shortly after receiving his appointment letter, Sanusi who is the 14thEmir in the Fulani Dynasty of Kano, said it was ordained by Allah and urged the people to cooperate with him and the state government for peace to reign in Kano.
Earlier, Governor Kwankwaso had said: “Your appointment into the exalted position of Emir of Kano was guided by our collective and careful judgment of your ability, credibility and capability to provide the required purposeful leadership to enhance the Emirate Council, at this crucial period of our history as a state and as a nation.”
Kwankwaso said that “the Kano State government has built a befitting building for the large family of the late emir in Sharada.
The keys will be handed over today to the family to move in.”
Emir Sanusi promised to rule according to the tenets of Islam and urged “other contenders for the throne and members of the ruling family to, as a family, continue to live in peace and harmony.” He promised to carry everybody along to make his tenure eventful.
Source: Nigerian Pilot
