The deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, has returned to the city following his removal by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. Bayero’s whereabouts had been unknown since his deposition on Thursday.
The political environment in Kano shifted significantly when the state House of Assembly repealed a law enacted by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on December 5, 2019. This law split the Kano emirate into five distinct emirates, each with its own emir. Governor Yusuf, upon signing the repeal of the Kano Emirates Council Law, ordered all affected emirs to vacate their palaces within 48 hours and hand them over to the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
In a dramatic turn of events, Yusuf reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II, who had been deposed by Ganduje in 2020, as the Emir of Kano. Sanusi received his reappointment letter on Friday and led the Jumat prayers at the Government House in Kano.
“By the powers conferred on me by the Kano Emirate Council Law of 1984 and 2024, and supported by the recommendation of the kingmakers, I have the singular pleasure of confirming the reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and the head of the Kano Emirate Council,” Governor Yusuf stated while presenting the letter.
Ado Bayero returned to Kano early Saturday morning, greeted by a crowd of supporters. His return marks another chapter in the ongoing saga of Kano’s traditional leadership and the political machinations surrounding it.
The video of Bayero’s return, seen by the Daily Trust, shows a strong support base for the deposed emir, indicating that his removal and the reinstatement of Sanusi have stirred significant public interest and sentiment.
The reinstatement of Sanusi and the political manoeuvres by Governor Yusuf highlight the deep-seated tensions and complexities within Kano’s political and traditional structures. As these developments unfold, the implications for Kano’s governance and the stability of its traditional institutions remain to be seen.