Buhari ordered the removal of Emir Sanusi–Kwankwaso

A former governor of Kano Rabiu Kwankwaso has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of orchestrating the dethronement of Muhammad Sanusi lI as the Emir of Kano.

KANO FOCUS reports that Mr Sanusi was deposed as the Kano emir by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on Monday and subsequently banished to Nasarawa state, where he is allegedly being detained.

Mr Kwankwaso who appointed Mr Sanusi ll as the 14th Emir of Kano in 2014 told BBC Hausa on Wednesday that “Kano state government officials have been saying they were directed to dethrone Mr Sanusi ll. He (Buhari) instructed them.”

He alleged that contrary to claims that Mr Buhari had intervened in the Kano emirate crisis, “we believe here in Kano that he (Buhari) interferes where he wishes.”

The former governor also said President Buhari “doesn’t interfere where his intervention is needed, but interferes on issues he is supposed to be neutral about.”

The federal government is yet to officially react to the dethronemment of Mr Sanusi. However Mr Buhari had earlier said he did not have the constitutional powers to intervene in the crisis between Mr Ganduje and Mr Sanusi.

Mr Kwankwaso described the removal of Sanusi as a sad incident to Kano, Nigeria and the entire world, adding that “the emir (Sanusi) is a global citizen.”

According to him no responsible government would dethrone Mr Sanusi.

The former governor also dismissed allegations that he queried Mr Sanusi twice during his tenure.

“I have never issued a query to His Highness the Emir of Kano,” he said.

The opposition leader also denied the allegation that Kwankwasiyya loyalists have contributed to fueling the crisis between Messrs Ganduje and Sanusi.

He said to the best of his knowledge, Mr Sanusi’s sin against Mr Ganduje was his statement that whoever won the 2019 governorship election in Kano should be given his mandate.

Mr Kwankwaso also lamented what he described as the humiliation of the deposed monarch as disrespect to Kano people.