Former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has pitied whoever would take over from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 saying such a successor would face more herculean challenges compared to when the incumbent took over in 2015.
Sanusi stated this yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State at a reception to mark the 80th birthday of the Babanla Adinni of Egbaland, Tayo Sowunmi
He said Nigeria is living on “extra time” and urged the electorate to vote only for those who are competent and honest.
“To be honest, this country, we are living on extra time. In 2015, we were in a deep hole. In 2023, we will be in an even deeper hole than in 2015.
“All those people who are struggling to be president, I hope they understand that the problems that they are going to face are multiples of the problems that were faced in 2015.
“All of us have to be ready for difficult decisions and if they are taken, we are all going to pay for them,” he said.
Answering questions on his likely presidential ambition ahead of 2023, Sanusi said: “When you tell me to go into politics, you are telling me to set aside one type of authority and look for another type of authority: to leave what God has given me and pursue something else.
“I am the first and only northern Nigerian to be chief executive officer of First Bank since it was set up in 1823. In this same life, God has made me governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He has made me Emir of Kano; He has made me Khalifa of Tijaniyyah. What am I looking for?”
Advising those in authority, he said: “Life has to be about service and leadership has to be about service. I will tell all those who are in authority: don’t forget that the office they are sitting in is an office that other people have sat in before and they would leave that office and other people will sit in that office. It is temporary.”
Underscoring the roles of traditional rulers, Sanusi, who is the leader of the Tijaniyya sect, said everyone cannot go into politics in a bid to solve the country’s problems.
“The solution is not for all of us to jump into politics. This country needs good politicians; it needs imams, pastors and bishops who are going to stand up and remind them (politicians) of the fear of God,” he said.
“It needs technocrats who are going to critique their policies. It needs traditional rulers who are going to speak as the conscience of the people. Everyone has a role to play and we should try to play that role to the best of our ability.
“If we all go into politics, who will hold the politicians responsible? Who is going to tell them when they are going wrong?
“I think it is because often, people don’t understand the role we play as traditional rulers that they think we should go and be governors or president.
“I think that the role I play can be more important than that of the president. It is different.”
