BREAKING: Sanusi Lamido Sanusi Reinstated as Emir of Kano.

Are we set to see the former central banker, and general irritant to those in power, return to his traditional ruler seat?

Muhammad Sanusi II, who was dethroned as Emir of Kano in northwest Nigeria in 2020, is on the verge of being reinstated after Kano’s parliament set in motion a plan to reverse the law that led to his ouster.

On Tuesday, 21 May 2024, the Kano State House of Assembly resolved to amend the 2019 law through which Sanusi was deposed.

The law, known as the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, was promulgated in 2019 by the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje administration when the governor had a publicised feud with the emir.

After the law was signed back in 2019, Sanusi’s Kano emirate was broken into five in order to whittle down his influence. However, he was eventually removed and replaced with his cousin, Aminu Ado Bayero.

New law boosts Sanusi chances

Five years later, however, the Kano parliament, which is now controlled by the opposition New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), resolved to amend the law after Majority Leader Hussien Dala moved the motion during plenary.

“The need to revisit the Emirs Law has become imperative to address the issues that have arisen from the 2019 amendment. We must ensure that our traditional institutions are governed by laws that reflect fairness and justice,” Dala said.

The Speaker of the Kano House of Assembly, Jibril Isma’il Falgore, promised to ensure that the process of amendment follows due process and transparency.

“We are committed to conducting a fair and open amendment process. All stakeholders will have the opportunity to contribute to the discussions,” he said.

Outspoken central banker

Sanusi, who was known as Lamido Sanusi Lamido before he ascended the throne back in 2014, was a governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank before he was removed by President Goodluck Jonathan in February of the same year.

The outspoken economist currently known by the religious title Khalifa Sanusi II, is a spiritual leader in the Tijaniyyah of the Sufi Order in Nigeria.