Back Off Now – Atiku Cautions FG Over Intervention In Kano Emir Tussle
- Says military action breaches constitutional provisions
BY VICTOR BUORO – Nigeria’s former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar says the deployment of soldiers to Kano over Alhaji Ado Bayero’s deposition as the emir breaches the nation’s Constitution.
Accordingly, he cautioned the Federal Government to retrace its steps as the military intervention in the tussle over the ancient city’s traditional stool between the 16th and 15th emirs, Muhammadu Sanusi II and Aminu Ado Bayero, is capable of causing a breach of peace and security in the Northwest state.
Atiku berated the government for contravening the 1999 Constitution as amended, insisting that the matter remains under the purview of the state since Governor Abba Yusuf has signed the repealed Kano State Emirate Council law which consequently reinstated the deposed Sanusi as the current emir.
In a statement released on Saturday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, the former Vice President said that President Bola Tinubu-led administration should resist any attempt to destabilise Kano which has enjoyed peace over the years.
The statement said thus, “The action of the Federal Government in deploying soldiers in Kano in the tussle over the throne of the ancient city is an upset to the peace and security of the state, and also in breach of the 1999 Constitution as Amended.
“In performing their constitutional duties of law-making, the Kano State House of Assembly (KSHA) passed the amended Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024 in consonance with the provision of Section 4 of the Constitution 1999 as Amended whereas the Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf subsequently signed into law the said bill. The law therefore repealed the 2019 version which balkanized the ancient Kano Emirate into five.
“The foregoing circumstances happened within the confines of the law and in compliance with the powers conferred on the Governor as provided by Section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended; and also in consultation with the Kingmakers of Kano, reappointed Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (also known as Muhammadu Sanusi II) as the 16th Emir of Kano State and accordingly handed him a letter of appointment.
“It is surprising that in the early hours of today, exactly at about 5:30 am the former Emir of Kano, His Majesty Aminu Ado Bayero backed by Federal might made their way into the Nasarawa Palace of the Kano Emirate while the reappointed Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II was at the Gidan Dabo, which is the main residence of the Emir of Kano.
“In this wise, the former Emir could not have made his way into the Nasarawa Palace without the support of the Federal Government having done so with the support of the Army and other security personnel in his company. The deployment of soldiers in extra-constitutional matters such as this undermines the integrity of the Nigerian military.
“We need to remind the Tinubu administration that Kano State is known for peace and harmony spanning thousands of years and any attempt to destabilise the peace of the Land of Commerce shall be resisted. Recall that Muhammadu Sanusi II was dethroned on 9th March 2020 dethroned, Kano forged on in peace without any fracas.
“We wish to state unequivocally that if for any reason, law and order breaks down in Kano State, particularly Kano Municipal, the Federal Government should be held responsible for the act of providing security cover to the former Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero to come back to Kano is an invitation to anarchy.”
For the Wazirin Adamawa; “The Federal Government does not have the jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of any State in Nigeria in the spirit of true federalism as enshrined in Section 2(1) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and the dichotomy provided by the Exclusive and Residual List therein respectively.”
