A former head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, has expressed doubt that President Muhammadu Buhari intervened in the feud between the dethroned Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sani 11 and the governor of Kano State, Mr. Abudullahi Ganduje after he (Abubakar) submitted the report of the 11-man member committee set up to intervene in the matter.
Sanusi was dethroned as the 14th Emir of Kano on March 9, and banished to Awe, a remote village in Nasarawa State.
In an interview with the Voice of America Hausa Service, Abubakar said if Buhari had intervened in the crisis, he was certain the turn of events would have been different.
“We went to him (Buhari) with our report and we discussed. I cannot say whether he intervened or not but if he intervened, it would be surprising we will be where we are now. But no matter what, if Allah says a thing will happen, there is nothing anybody can do.”
Abubakar regretted that all the committee’s efforts were in vain in view of the recent deposition of the emir.
“We met with the Emir and the governor separately then we met them together. We tried to mediate. All I can say is that there was a misunderstanding and Satan got involved.
“After conclusion of the assignment, we realised that there was amicable resolution to the crisis. Surprisingly, this is what happened at last.
“The governor had the yam and the knife in this matter because the emir is under him,” he said.
Reacting to the development, former governor of Kano State, Mr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, alleged that Buhari was behind Sanusi’s dethronement.
Speaking in an interview on the Hausa Service of the BBC, Kwankwaso said the deposed monarch should have been given the choice of where he would stay as enshrined in Section 35 of the constitution.
“First of all, this is a very sad day in Kano and Nigeria in general and indeed the world over because His Highness, Emir Sanusi, is a global citizen. From what we’ve seen, from what we’ve heard, no responsible government will take the kind of decision that was taken by the Kano State Government, deposing Emir Sanusi ll.
“But importantly, Section 35 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria says even if you depose a person, you should allow him to choose where to stay.
“Considering remarks made by those closer to Mr. President, they say he does not interfere in misunderstandings, that he keeps mute whenever there are such conflicts. But we, especially in Kano, we look at this attitude of Mr. President differently. Where he was supposed to intervene, he never did. So, where he was not supposed to intervene, you found him intervening.
“You see, here in Kano State Government themselves (officials) said they were ordered from above to depose the Emir. He (Buhari) is the one that gave them the order,” he said.
In his response, the president said in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Garba Shehu, said the constitution has made it clear that the appointment of emirs and traditional leaders remain the responsibility of state governors.
The statement entitled ‘Leave President Buhari out of the Kano emirate issue’ Shehu described the president’s alleged interference in the erstwhile emir’s affairs as “untrue” “malicious” and “politically motivated.”
“The President does not have a history of intervening in the affairs of any state in the country, unless the issue at hand is of national consequence.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has no involvement whatsoever in the dethronement of HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II from the position of Emir of Kano. All such insinuations are untrue, malicious and politically motivated.
“The President does not have a history of intervening in the affairs of any state in the country, unless the issue at hand is of national consequence. On such matters which impinge on national security, he has a duty of involvement as the law stipulates.
“As outlined in the Constitution, the appointment or removal of emirs and other traditional leaders is strictly within the jurisdiction of state governments. It is unfair and disingenuous of opposition politicians to try to link the situation in Kano State to the federal government and the Nigerian President.
“Although a retired general and former military head of state, President Buhari clearly understands that under the current democratic dispensation, the government at the centre cannot read instructions or twist the arms of all or any of the 36 state governments making up the federation.
“They all have their powers specified under the Constitution. President Buhari commends the people of Kano for keeping calm in the past few days of the dethronement announcement. ‘’He prays that the will of Allah will be done at all times, and that the emirate/state and its people continue to experience progress irrespective of who is on the throne,” said Shehu.
