Ganduje addresses Sanusi as Emir of Kano in surprise reconciliation move
In an unexpected moment of reconciliation, former Kano Governor and immediate-past All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, publicly recognised Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of
In an unexpected moment of reconciliation, former Kano Governor and immediate-past All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, publicly recognised Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano.
Ganduje addressed the form Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor as Emir of Kano during the swearing-in of Murtala Sule Garo as the state’s new deputy governor on Tuesday.
The scene unfolded at the Ante-Chamber of the Government House, Kano, where Ganduje and Emir Sanusi were seen warmly exchanging greetings before a crowd of dignitaries and guests.
The gesture drew murmurs of surprise, coming five years after Ganduje dethroned Sanusi in March 2020 and installed Aminu Ado Bayero, the son of the late Emir Abdullahi Ado Bayero, as the 15th Emir of Kano.
Governor Abba Yusuf, who assumed duty as governor on May 29, 2023, sacked Aminu Ado Bayero as Emir of Kano on May 23, 2024.
He signed the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024 that same day, which abolished the five emirate councils created by Ganduje and reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.
Yusuf, whonwas then a member of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), also gave Bayero and the other four deposed emirs 48 hours to vacate their palaces and hand over emirate property to the Deputy Governor’s office.
The move sparked ongoing litigation between Sanusi and Bayero over who is the legitimate Emir of Kano.
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Both Sanusi and Ganduje attended the ceremony to witness the swearing-in of Hon. Murtala Sule Garo as Kano’s new Deputy Governor on Tuesday.
The oath of office was administered by the Chief Judge of Kano State, Justice Dije Abdu Aboki, with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, top government officials, lawmakers, traditional rulers, and party stakeholders in attendance.
Other prominent figures at the event included former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.
The public handshake between Ganduje and Sanusi is being viewed as a significant thaw in a long-standing political and traditional feud that has divided the Kano Emirate.
Since 2023, the Kano emirship has been at the centre of a legal and political battle, with Bayero challenging his removal by Governor Abba Yusuf and Sanusi holding court as the recognised Emir under the Yusuf administration.
The dispute has remained contentious, with both sides engaging in protracted litigation over the legitimacy of the traditional seat. The matter is still in court, The Nation learnt.
Tuesday’s public acknowledgment, however, suggests a shift in tone. Political analysts say the reconciliation could ease tensions within the state and influence the broader political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
For now, the image of Ganduje and Sanusi standing together at the Government House has sent a clear signal that old political fences may finally be mending in Kano.
