Kano Govt Reverses Self, Amends Emirates’ Chair Rotational Law

BY SALISU IBRAHIM, KANO – The Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has assented to the State Emirates Council Amendment Law 2020 that confirms the Emir of Kano as permanent Chairman of the State Council of Emirs.

In the old order that many considered a deliberate move by the State government to curtail the powers and influence of deposed Emir Mohammadu Sanusi II, the position was meant to rotate among the five first class emirs in the state.

However, with Governor Ganduje signing the amendment into law, the new arrangement now has Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, as the permanent Council chairman.

Also going forward, the law makes all successive the Emirs of Kano permanent Chairmen of the state Emirate Council.

Governor Ganduje assented to the new law during the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting at Africa House of Government House, Kano.

According to the governor; “Before the signing of this Amended Law, we had four king makers from each of the five emirates. But we now have five kingmakers from each of the five emirates in the state.

“We have done this to avert any unwanted situation (a tally) in an event of appointing an emir. We need to have an odd number, not even number, when voting for an emir.”

He stated that being the 4th in line of Emirs’ ranking in the country, the Emir of Kano, should remain the permanent chairman of the State Council of Emirs, to avoid contradictions in the future.

Offering further details on the latest development, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Abba Anwar, said in a statement that: “Very soon, the Emir of Kano (Aminu Ado Bayero) will be inaugurated as the Chairman of the State Council of Emirs.”

Anwar explained that the government is currently renovating the Secretariat, located at Gidan Shettima, in preparation for the Emir’s inauguration.