How Governor Kwakwanso Allegedly Killed Emir Of Kano, Bayero!

Going by ancient tradition in Nigeria and probably worldwide, it is absurd for a sitting monarch, hale and hearty, to be deposed by either a president or a state governor, if such a monarch is not involved in criminal allegations. But Nigerians would not forget in a hurry how late military dictator, General Sanni Abacha removed Ibrahim Dasuki the former Sultan of Sokoto and replaced him with Muhammadu Maccido. However, it could also be recalled that the then new Sultan, Maccido died alongside his son Badamosi Maccido in an ADC Airlines Flight 53 crash on October 29, 2006. This heartrending incident made many Nigerians ponder if, perhaps the illegal removal of the old Sultan would have been the cause of the fatal crash. Well, only God knows the truth.

Many Nigerians are of the know that the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji (Dr.) Ado Bayero came, sojourned, conquered and went from the surface of the earth, but only few actually know the real cause of his demise. Global News, in its usual tradition dug deep into what actually led to the death of the highly revered Northern traditional leader. In our investigation, we realized that the Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso prior to the passing away of Ado Bayero had threatened to depose him or balkanize the entire Kano Emirate into three if the Emir refused to rescind his decision on the appointment of a new Waziri of Kano. This battle of supremacy between the Emir of Kano and the state governor came as a shock to many indigenes and residents of the state who were privy to the failing health of the 86-year-old Emir since his convoy was attacked by four suspected Boko Haram members who opened fire on them on the Emir’s way while leaving Masalacin Murtala area of the Kano metropolis where he had gone to attend a Qur’anic graduation ceremony. Since this incident, the Emir had been in shock and he had not recovered from the unexpected scenario.

It could be recalled that the Emir ignored the warnings of the governor and turbaned the Imam of Fagge Jumu’at Mosque, Sheikh Nasir Muhammad Nasir as the new Waziri of Kano. This move by the Emir did not go down well with the governor who had hitherto vehemently rejected the nomination of Sheikh Nasir.

However, opinion leaders in the North believed that the appointment became necessary as a result of the demise in August 2013of the former occupant of the post, Sheikh Isa Waziri, an eminent Islamic scholar and jurist of international repute whose annual Tafsir during the month of Ramadan made him a household name.

Shortly after his death the Emirate Council proposed the appointment of Sheikh Nasir Muhammad Nasir but this was fervently rejected by Governor Kwankwaso allegedly for political reasons.

The matter therefore remained pending shortly after the return of the late Emir from a prolonged medical check-up in London, when he decided to go ahead and turban Sheikh Nasir as the new Waziri.

The brief turban ceremony was in fact witnessed by the deputy governor of the state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, thus giving the impression that the governor might have changed his mind on the appointment of the Sheikh. However, after the ceremony the governor was said to have reprimanded his deputy and ordered him to convey his displeasure to the Emirate Council. The deputy governor thereafter summoned the Wamban Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sunusi, and informed him that the governor was still opposed to the appointment.

We also gathered that the Wambai and Galadiman Kano, Alhaji Tijjani Hashim, conveyed the message to the late Emir who was so incensed with the development that he allegedly ordered them out of his sight. Consequently, the governor was said to have caused a letter to be written to the Emir in which he threatened to either dethrone him or balkanize his emirate into three, with two additional emirates to be created for Gaya and Karaye, if he refused to rescind his decision.

This prompted the Emirate Council to hold an emergency meeting with the representative of the Sultan of Sokoto in attendance with a view to resolving the issue. The meeting was said to have resolved the impasse by advising the council to reverse the appointment and this was announced then by Wamban Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sunusi.

It would be recalled that relations between Governor Kwankwaso and the late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero had remained frosty since the former’s return to power in 2011, eight years after losing the governorship election to Malam Ibrahim Shekarau in his bid for a second term in office. It was exclusively reported last year that Kwankwaso had caused the State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to probe the finances of the Emirate Council with regard to the emoluments paid to all the district heads in the emirate.

In an interview with the Hausa Service of Radio Germany, the chairman of the committee, Alhaji Kabiru Rurum confirmed the development but saw no big deal in it as the district heads are employees of the government which was concerned about their welfare. However, this was viewed differently by some stakeholders in the state who feared that the government might be aiming at dethroning the Emir.