Sanusi set to move into palace as police end siege

Semiu Salami
Semiu Salami
International business magnate and Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, paying homage to the new Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, yesterday.With them are Makama, Alhaji Abdullahi Sarki Ibrahim; Wali, Mahe Bashir Wali; Jarma, Professor Isa Hashim; Dallatu, Alhaji Muhammad Aliyu and the Deputy Secretary of the Emirate Council, Alhaji Sarki Waziri. Photo: Govt. House, Kano.

The police on Thursday ended their four-day siege to the palatial official residence of the Emir of Kano.

The police had on Monday deployed armed officers and men in the palace following a series of protests by some youths who kicked against the appointment of a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, as the new Emir of Kano.

Already, preparations were being put in place to ensure that Sanusi, who had been ruling Kano from the state Government House since Monday, relocates to the palace.

Director of Press and Public Relations to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Baba Dantiye, told our correspondents that Sanusi would move into the place within the next few days. “I just got the information that the police have left the palace. Preparations will now start to ensure that the emir relocates to the palace,” he said.

But Dantiye noted that since policemen had also been withdrawn from the Government House, Kano youths had taken over the responsibility of guarding the place.

“Patriotic young men are guarding the Government House now as a result of the withdrawal of policemen by the federal authorities,” Dantiye wrote in a post on his Facebook page on Thursday.

Sanusi is expected to lead the 7th day Fidau prayers for the late Emir, Ado Bayero, on Friday (today) by 12 noon.

It was gathered that the new traditional ruler will subsequently lead Muslim faithful in Kano during the Friday Jumat prayers.

The new Emir on Thursday received the leader of Tijjaniyya sect in Africa, Khalifa Sheikh Isiyaka Rabi’u, at the Government House.

According to a message on Dantiye’s Facebook page, Rabi’u offered prayers to God to grant the new emir protection and wisdom to rule over his people.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress lawmakers in the House of Representatives disagreed on Thursday over the allegation by Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso that President Goodluck Jonathan was behind the crisis that followed the appointment of Mallam Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.

Kwankwaso, who also said Jonathan had no business in the appointment of Sanusi as an emir, said it was worrisome that he (President) was meddling in the affairs of Kano State.

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