Supporters of Sanusi Ado Bayero, the son of the late Emir of Kano, who was defeated by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, to emerge the emir of the ancient city, have taken to the streets to protest the rejection of their preferred candidate.
A resident of the town, Ibrahim Hamisu, said that the protesters set up bonfires using tyres around the Emirs’ palace, while another group of protesters marching to the Government House were stopped by armed soldiers and policemen who formed a barricade to stop them from getting near the seat of government.
Sources further said that the protesters were also destroying all government properties in sight, following an earlier announcement by the Secretary to the Government, Rabi’u Bichi, of the selection of Sanusi as the new emir of Kano following his recommendation by the kingmakers and approval by Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Bichi while making the announcement at Government House, Kano, disclosed that the government chose Sanusi out of three candidates forwarded to him by Kano Kingmakers. “Under state customary law, the kingmakers comprising the Madaki, Sarkin Bai, Makaman and Sarkin Dawaki Maituta had sat down and forwarded three names to the government to choose the one that will succeed the Late Emir Ado Abdullahi Bayero.
“Out of these three names the government has approved Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Dan Majen Kano, and former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as the new emir of Kano.”
An Emirate council source told our correspondent in Kano that Bayero’s supporters were protesting because they felt shortchanged.
“Earlier in the day, message came to the Prince while he was at the palace receiving condolences that he needed to go and get set for turbanning in case he was the one selected, so, many of his supporters followed him to his private residence and most of them assumed that he must have been selected since he was getting set for turbanning,” our source said.
“Unknown to many, both nominees were required to be ready whether they will eventually be selected or not, but many misconstrued the order and were shocked when Sanusi Lamido was eventually announced and they are the ones protesting now.”
Another source told our correspondent this evening that some indigenes of the state who felt disenchanted with the emergence of Sanusi Lamido, have hurried out of the town, mostly back to Abuja, in what is being widely interpreted as a protest against the choice of the new emir.
One of such indigenes, according to the source, is Habib Abdulahi, managing director of the Nigerian Ports Plc. Abdullahi, according to sources, had along with other top Kano indigenes virtually relocated to the ancient city to form a powerful lobby group pushing for Bayero’s candidacy.
“Now, our MD, is returning back to Abuja immediately, there was no point waiting again, since his choice candidate has failed to make it,” said a top management staff of the corporation.
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