By Baron Ike
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State says there is pressure from 35 civil society organisations to dethrone the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
Ganduje who has been looking for ways to oust Sanusi said on Thursday that the CSOs wrote him a letter calling for the immediate dethronement of the Emir of Kano.
He claimed the CSOs want Sanusi removed over disobedience to constituted authority.
Ganduje spoke in a statement on Thursday by his spokesman, Abba Anwar, noting that the CSOs are concerned that Sanusi is making efforts to create a state within a state.
Though Anwar did not list the 35 CSOs, but he said their request was signed by one Ibrahim Ali, whom he described as the chairman of the coalition.
The statement read: “Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state has received a letter from a coalition of 35 civil society groups urging him to, in the interest of protecting the sanctity of the rule of law, and the mandate given to him by Kano electorate, as a matter of urgency, start the process of dethroning the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
“The letter titled ‘Kano State Emirate Council Law, 2019 : Demand Letter’ states clearly that, ‘The coalition of 35 Civil Society Groups under the above-mentioned group (UMBRELLA OF KANO CONCERNED CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS) are curiously studying the unfolding events in the running of Kano State affairs especially in recent time, as it relates to the lingering face-off between the Government of Kano State on one hand and the Emir of Kano on the other hand.
“The letter seeks that, ‘If the Emir of Kano fails to submit to the authority of the government of Kano State, we call on the Governor of Kano State on the strongest term, to act strictly in accordance with the provision of Kano Emirate Council Law 2019 in order to heed the state forward.’
“They concluded that they hope their demands and recommendations get the governor’s attention, noting and further necessary action, as provided by the Law establishing all the 4 Emirates in the state.”
Ganduje recently created four additional emirates to whittle down the powers of Sanusi.
The court also recently rejected the new emirates, giving Ganduje and his supporters the opportunity to seek new windows to further undermine Sanusi.