Five days after he was installed as the Emir of Kano, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) gained access to the palace for the first time yesterday.
The emir, who had made the Kano State Government House his home on account of the occupation of the palace by policemen, made his way to the palace in a triumphant entry of sort, soon after leading the Jummaa’t prayers and the 7th day Fidau prayer for the late Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero.
In his sermon at the prayers, the new emir sued for peace and unity among Muslims and Christians and the generality of Nigerians.
He rode in his official Rolls Royce car, waving through the car’s top-roof to his subjects who had lined the about two kilometre route from the Government House to the palace.
In his long convoy were title holders, district heads, Kano State Deputy Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje; the Special Adviser on Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Tijani Mailafiya Wambai Kano and Senior Counsellor of the Emirate, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, among others.
Providing security were the same police who had denied him access to the palace until yesterday.
Gone were the pockets of protests launched by some youths after the announcement of his appointment as emir.
As tradition demands, a fresh gate was created on the Kofar Kudu wing of the palace wall for the emir to enter on a white horse.
Gun salutes and trumpets were complemented with praise songs by the crowd.
He was officially received into the palace by the four king-makers- Alhaji Yusuf Nabahani, (Madakin Kano), Alhaji Sarki Abdullahi (Makaman Kano), Alhaji Bello Tuta (Sarki Dawaki Mai-Tuta), and Alhaji Mukhtar Adnan (Sarki Bai).
Once inside the inner chamber, Emir Sanusi headed straight to the graves of his predecessors to pray for the repose of their souls.
Reconciliatory meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and the new Emir of Kano, Alhaji Mohammad Sanusi, as he was renamed yesterday, is said to be next on the card after the withdrawal of the policemen who sealed off the emir’s palace.
Facilitating the reconciliation are the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), who were said to have met with the President on the matter on Thursday.
Their intervention paved the way for the withdrawal of the policemen from the palace following which the new emir gained access into the palace yesterday; the first time since his emergence as the traditional ruler of the ancient city on Sunday.
It was gathered that the proposed reconciliatory meeting between Presidient Jonathan and Emir Sanusi is part of the effort to resolve issues surrounding the appointment of the new Emir of Kano.
Expected at the meeting, which may hold some time next week, are top emirs from the North.
Meanwhile, pressure is being mounted on the children of the late Emir Ado Bayero to pay homage to the new Emir with a view to laying any misunderstanding to rest.
Sources said that the NSCIA delegation, led by the Sultan, had audience with the President on Thursday where matters arising from the choice of Sanusi were sorted out.
The President reportedly told the delegation that neither him nor the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) was out to desecrate the stool of the Emir of Kano.
The meeting agreed to lay the controversy over the emergence of Sanusi to rest.
The source added: “We have had audience with the President and we got assurance from him that the row on Sanusi’s appointment is over.
“We also realised that personal issues bordering on communication gap, partisanship, and disrespect or suspicion for each other aggravated the emirate politics.
“We are going to facilitate a reconciliatory meeting between the President and the new Emir to bury the hatchet.
“I think in the next one week, we should be able to hold the session to put the past behind us.”
Another source said many prominent traditional rulers in the North have been prevailing on Bayero’s children to toe the peace and reconciliatory paths of their father.
“I think they are still mourning. They will pay the homage after all the religious rites have been concluded.
“Many northern emirs and leaders have persuaded them to forgive and forget the succession battle because they are from the same lineage with Emir Sanusi.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Society knows people heart, especially on something like this, traditional coronation.
ReplyDeleteSanusi must answer criminal cases over him. He does not have immunity like gov'nors and presido. The north cannot always be twisting the law to favour them every time. Did Sanusi not know as one vying for such exotic and respected position he has to be clean? President should not allow this, for it will set wrong precedence. Othe traditional ruler will want to do same or similar behaviour on the ground that sanusi did all the rubbish and insults to fed Govt and GEJ and went scot free. He must be brought to book. The so sultan same as sanusi against the federal govt, has not hidden his rejection of GEJ govt. He also is another man on the side of APC.
ReplyDeleteThank u. He should be arrested
DeleteWhether Sannusi is the Emir of Kano or Emir of the whole North he must answer the criminal cases against him . This is another way the North wants to prove to the South that they decide what happens in Nigeria .
ReplyDeleteThis Sanusi that was said to be involved in the murder of that Igbo man in prison.
ReplyDeletewho among all these big men are clean? Nigerians should just wise up and enjoy the drama while it lasts!
ReplyDelete