On Sunday, the 16th Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, presided over his first emirate council meeting at the Gidan Rumfa palace since his reinstatement.
The meeting marked a significant moment for the emirate as 40 district heads and senior traditional council members reaffirmed their allegiance to Emir Sanusi, solidifying his authority and calming the recent tension surrounding the emirship.
After being reinstated by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Friday, Emir Sanusi took up residence in the palace and held the expanded council meeting.
The district heads and council members prostrated themselves before him, symbolizing their official endorsement of his position as the rightful Emir of Kano.
Notable attendees included the five kingmakers: Madaki, Wali, Makama, Sarkin Bai, and Sarkin Dawaki Maituta, alongside other prominent figures such as Waziri, Turaki, and Dokaji. The reaffirmation by these leaders signaled broad support within the traditional hierarchy.
Before the council meeting, Emir Sanusi emerged from the inner palace on a white royal horse, greeted with admiration and jubilation from his subjects. The scene was a display of royal tradition and public support.
During the meeting, Emir Sanusi also engaged with various interest groups, including vigilante organizations, women’s groups, private individuals, and well-wishers who gathered at the palace to express their respect and loyalty.
Emir Sanusi’s return to power followed the repeal of a 2019 law that had divided the Kano emirate into five distinct regions, which had been used to justify his previous removal.
Governor Yusuf’s approval of the new law on Thursday paved the way for Sanusi’s reinstatement, effectively uniting the emirate under his leadership once again.
The broad show of allegiance and the emir’s successful maiden council meeting indicate a stabilization of the emirate’s leadership, with Emir Sanusi firmly reestablishing his role at the helm of Kano’s traditional authority.